
i'i<i:si:.\Ti-:i) hy 



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HISTORICAL PAPERS 



READ AT MEETINGS 
OF THE 



CLINTON 

HISTOEICAL SOCIETY 



EDITED BY 

W. E. PARKHURST 



Vol. I. 



CLINTON, MASS. : 
PUBLISHED BY CLINTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



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MAY 2. mi 



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PREFACE 

In submitting for the instruction and entertainment of our 
successors various papers which have been read before the Clin- 
ton Historical Society the committee concluded to preserve — and 
include as prefatory to later articles — four essays which were 
printed in single pamphlet form several years since, concluding 
this volume with more recent contributions ; these selections were 
made from a large number of papers being necessarily limited to 
such as are of strictly local character. Many valuable biograph- 
ical sketches, etc., are reserved for a second volume to be issued 
at a later date. 



CONTENTS 



/ Indian Paths and Trails 1 

wellington e. parkhubst 

/ Features of Shay's Rebellion ^ 

JUDGE JONATHAN SMITH 

/ Clinton in the Civil Wak *^1 

joshua thissell 

Clinton Militia 33 

judge christopher c. stone 

/ Old Houses in Clinton 39 

judge christopher c. stone 

^ Reminiscences of School Days 44 

DR. GEORGE W. BURDETT 

/-High Street in 1853 47 

wellington e. parkhurst 

y First Seven Years in Clinton 57 

JOSHUA THISSELL 

/ Clinton viLLE in 1846 .... 62 

dr. george m. morse 

/ Clintonville in 1847 71 

DR. DANIEL B. INGALLS 

/Memories of Former Clinton Ministers 79 

REV. CHARLES M. BOWERS, D. D. 

Early History of Clinton Hospital 89 

DR. WALTER P. BOWERS 

/Phases in the Evolution of Clinton's Greatest 

Industry 94 

NEIL WALKER 

/History of Chapel Hill School 97 

wellington e. parkhurst 

History of Clinton Baptist Church 110 

rev. charles m. bowers, d. d. 



INDIAN PATHS AND TRAILS. 



A Paper Read at the Annual Meeting of The Clinton Historical 
Society, September 12, 1904. 



BY WELLINGTON E. PARKHURST. 



Inhaling, as we do, the air of an few yearfe ago Rev. E. G. Porter of 

open country where forests are the Lexington, aided by land-owners and 

exception and not the rule in scenic farmers made a personal and careful 

effects, with abundant opportunities survey of all the leading trails in the 

to travel by power other than that de- state, so far as they can now be 

rived from our personal muscles, traced. But unfortunately for the 

being able to go toward any of the antiquarians he died — only two years 

cardinal points of the compass on al- ago — before completing his work and 

most any hour of day or night, on condensing facts of interest for the 

steam or electric line or by horse, car- general reader. 

riage or auto, on roads which are The earliest surveyors whoi, without 

nearly equal in finish to those of Old compass or chain, laid out roads 

England, sending messages of love through the dense primeval foi-tests of 

and joy or of sorrow to distant points this continent were the mound-build- 

with the rapidity of the lightning's ers of whom history gives us but a 

flash with or" without wires, and en- brief record. We know of this ancient 

joying a fair prospect of aerial navi- people only by their works. It is 

gation which will make the excursion- quite useless to enter into a discus- 

ist quite independent of mountains, sion of their origin — to debate the 

rivers, forests, lakes and swamps — question whether they were de- 

under all these actual and promising scended from the lost ten tribes of 

conditions, it is well to compare the Israel, as some affirm, or from the 

record of the past, the realities of the Mongols or Malays, although the tra- 

present, and the prospects of the ditions of some of the tribal races 

future in our long-looks ahead. And it point to a long-past journey from the 

is sometimes profitable to reverse our West and a voyage across a great 

field-glass and instead of spending an and Pacific ocean. They may have 

hour in magnifying the present, focus come hither by the sea or migrated 

the lens upon the borderland of ob- from Asia across Bhering's Straits, 

livion and gather incidents relating to but it is safe to aver that they had 

the traveled highways and boulevards hunting grounds and that they also 

of the olden times. had well trodden roads from one 

In making a research for facts along mound village to its neighbor; and 

the line of "Trails and Paths," we are we are bound to believe in their 

embarrassed by the paucity of records, loyalty to their forest home, for as a 

The largest libraries and the best en- Celtic philosopher remarks: "Every 

dowed historical rooms contain no man loves his native land whether he 

more than fugitive items and meagre was born there or not." 

fragments of the desired history. A Perhaps coeval with the ancient 



2 Indian Paths and Trails. 

people who dotted the country with red men did not attempt to follow the 
mounds were the vast herds of buffa- buffalo roads their trails were laid out 
loes which in their mad plunges lor with reference to the location of the 
food or for safety instinctively found hunting grounds and the home-camps, 
the best roads around the marshes as well as the camps of their enemies, 
and over the mountains. Travelling In the western states there were 
in immense numbers these animals' great and heavily patronized trails be- 
paths were often worn three or four tween Pittsburg and Detroit, and the 
feet deep and were therefore easily Iroquois trail up the Mohawk valley to 
distinguishable. No better compli- the Niagaria river was an especially 
ment could have beeen paid to these popular way. Some of the original 
quadrupedal engineers than was given roads which succeeded the early trail 
by the professionals who, through a were a mile wide as the teams, un- 
rough country, laid out the present able to follow the narrow paths over 
route of the Baltimore & Ohio -rail- rocks and through swamps where the 
road closely following the lines horses were In danger of being mired 
adopted long years before by the or dnowned, found various diversions 
buffaloes. In two instances the road a matter of necessity. As a general 
is also tunneled directly below the rule the Indians cultivated their lower 
buffaloes' trail over the mountain lands, building their forts and mounds 
tops. Said a verdant student to an upon hills which afforded a view of 
old settler: "The Indians must have any approaching enemy and where 
patronized the railroad generously there was less danger of encountering 
since their trails pass bv most of the forest fires. The crossing of strteams 
stations." The settler replied: "Law, by fording — no bridges then — was 
no' There wa'n't no railroads in usually near the mouths of the rivers; 
those days, but when they came to in those years the process of dredging 
buildin' them they followed the trail was unknown and bars of mud or 
the hull way." sand frequently appeared near the 

Indian trails early covered this mouths of tributaiiy streams; and 
country in a complex network, affor^d- that guide was rated as too unreliable 
ing direct lines to important strategic for service who did not carry in his 
points, and the more thoroughly the head a diagram of the rivers and their 
red man learned the value of his furs bars. 

the more deeply worn were the forest While the pre-historic people built 
paths which connected him with the roads over which the heavy material 
eastern markets; and journeying in for the construction of the mound 
single file, as was his custom, the could be transported, the later Indian 
paths were frequently twelve inches needed good roads only for hunting and 
below the surrounding territory. As for war. The savages had little trouble 
the woods abounded in brush and in finding their way through the 
dense undergrowth it was impossible forests and by the eye could often tell 
for the pedestrian to see more than a the age of a ti^ack in the sand and did 
few feet ahead in his path and sur- not exclusively depend upon blazed 
prises were therefore possible at any trees; and he could also determine 
moment, and head-on collisions with between the north and the south side 
native foes and even with herds of of a hill by the general aspect of the 
buffaloes were a constant liability. foliage and could thus mark his 

The Indians preferred a way over course as he ran and know his direc- 
bigh ground traversing the ridges, for tion as accurately as the traveler who 
there were the dryest and best of was burdened with a compass, 
paths, as the stoi^m water quickly ran Indian thoroughfares were divided 
down the inclines, leaving the ways into: (1) hunting trails which led 
dry while the high winds kept them from the villages to the hunting 
clear of brush in the summer and grounds; (2) war trails, routes to and 
snow in the winter. So far as was from the home-lands of hostile tribes, 
possible the trail was straight and di- whence comes our expression, "On the 
rect, although necessarily circuitous war path;" (3) portage trails or the 
on low, marshy grounds. When the ways over which the Indians traveled 



Indian Paths and Trails. 



between adjacent bodies of water; (4) 
river trails which followed the course 
of the rivers; and (5), trade trails, the 
fur routes on which the Indian ponies 
were driven laden with goods for the 
mar(ket. 

Among the first white missionaries 
who labored among the Indians was 
John Eliot, who established a colony 
at Natick where the so-called "pray- 
ing Indians" became partially civi- 
lized; a critical writer makes a point, 
however, on methods there employed, 
viz: that the white teachers made a 
mistake in trying to graft advanced 
English customs on the undeveloped 
natives which experiment resulted in 
a comic incongruity In the way of a 
blanket-and-silk-hat costume not un- 
like that of the half-civilized Indians 
of the western states. Upon these 
Indians "de white element of de popu- 
lation," as designated at a later date 
by a colored preacher in Chicago, 
coming from the vicinity of the sea- 
board gradually encroached and in 
their dealings with the red men, ap- 
parently did business under the opera- 
tion of two resolves: 1, that all the 
land hereabouts belongs to the saints; 
2, that we are the saints. Notwith- 
standing the overbearing methods of 
the white men the Indians profited by 
their acquaintance with them and 
learned many things which proved of 
great advantage. Rev. Dr. Allen, in 
his history of Northboro, shows how 
by their intercourse with the whites 
they acquired a comprehension of the 
technicalities of legal methods in a 
reference to a dispute which arose be- 
tween two natives over the ownership 
of a pumpkin which rooted in one field 
and bore golden fruit in another field 
on the other side of the garden wall; 
the question of rights was left to a 
referee who settled the quarrel as 
effectually as a Hague Arbitration 
board could have accomplished the 
task by cutting the pumpkin in twain 
and dividing it between the litigants. 

As a result of this annoying pres- 
sure from the coast John Eliot moved 
westward, establishing his colony at 
Okomokamasit (Marlboro). But the> 
country between Natick and Marlboro 
was then a howling wilderness 
through which it was scarcely safe to 
travel, whether on or off a trail. Wild 



animals abounded and so late as 1680 
the Marlboro settlement had voted to 
raise a force of 13 men to hunt rattle- 
snakes, and only five years before 
Eliot's removal had paid a bounty for 
the ears of wolves. 

Says the New England Historical 
and Genealogical Register: "We are 
not accustomed to think of any in- 
debtedness to the Indians, but in no 
respect is so much owed them as for 
leading the way through the other- 
wise trackless wilderness. The Indian 
paths and landmarks became, by 
adoption, the property of the pioneers 
who gave to the present generations 
their homes in a smiling land. From 
wigwam to wigwam hospitable doors 
wiere always open on the leeward side 
to the pre-historic people who drifted 
past on the long-distance paths. A 
mortar for the grinding of parched 
corn or a cooling spring was their 
halting place; and within their wraps 
of skins and feathers they slept as 
contentedly in the great pathless 
forests as the birds within their 
nests." 

The first roads in New England are 
named by the early court records 
"trodden paths." They were narrow 
lines less than two feet wide, car- 
peted with pine needles and fallen 
leaves over which the moccasin-shod 
Indians silently filed their way 
through the forests. The emotions of 
the solitary footman as he traveled up 
hill and down dale, over courses 
which crooked around bog or boulder, 
must have been of a peculiar sort, for 
he was ever quite uncertain whether 
at the next bend in the underbrush of 
the trail he might not be surprised by 
some welcome friend or deadly foe; 
and we may imagine something of the 
extent of the result should two hostile 
tribes, as they approach each other 
on this naiTow way from around an 
intervening crag, suddenly suffer a 
conflict. 

But these trails were soon deepened 
and worn bare by the hob-nail shoes 
of the white settlers,while other paths 
were formed by the tread of domestic 
cattle which have a natural aptitude 
for making pathways as they wind 
about obstacles in quest of fresh graz- 
ing ground or for cooling springs. 
The trail gradually developed into a 



4 



Indian Paths and Trails. 



bridal path for horses and slowly grew 
into rugged paths, and finally into 
roads for the purpose of ordinary 
traveling. The early colonists had no 
steam or electric railways, no autoj 
or cycles, and readily became profes- 
sional walkers literally "following in 
the steps of their illustrious predeces- 
sors." 

The earliest trail of which we have 
a record was the old Plymouth or 
coast trail, which connected the capi- 
tals of the two colonies, Boston and 
Plymouth. The ancient Connecticut 
path started from Cambridge, running 
through Marlboro to Worcester, 
Springfield, and on west to Albany. 
The new Connecticut path also com- 
menced at Cambridge running to Wor- 
cester, but taking a more northerly 
course than the older way, continuing 
westerly through the Brookfields. 
The Kennebunk road, by the sea, was 
a line which ran northwardly from 
Boston along the shore, through Kit- 
tery and York to Portland. 

But the most famous of all the 
early "Paths" was known as the "Bay 
Path." It diverged from tlie old Con- 
necticut path at Wayland, running 
though Marlboro, Worcester, Oxford, 
Charlton and Brookfleld, and there 
joining again the Connecticut path, 
and on to Springfield. 

The early history of the Bay Path 
is a matter of slight record. In the 
autumn after the arrival of Gov. Win- 
throp the Massachusetts colony found 
itself very short of supplies; the 
news of this famine was carried to the 
Wabbaquassets, a Nipmuck tribe liv- 
ing near the present village of Wood- 
stock, Ct., that the English at the Bay 
were in great want of corn or Indian 
maize and would pay a good price for 
the article. The hillsides of Connecti- 
cut were celebrated for their bounti- 
ful crops of corn and the old chief of 
the Wabbaquassets, recognizing an 
opportunity to make a good trade ^y 
selling from his full granaries, filled 
large sacks with corn, members of his 
tribe carrying these burdens on their 
backs through the woods all the way 
to Boston, where the colonists had a 
spacious cellar, a Metropolitan refrig- 
erator, located near the "common," 
and suitable for storage purposes. 
Thus these Indians by traveling over 



the best known way through the 
boundless forests, met demand with 
supply. 

Three years later, Messrs. Oldham 
and Hall, with two friends, learning of 
this expedition and being satisfied 
that the route taken by the corn em- 
bassy was a safe trail, with several 
Indian villages along the way,followed 
it in a journey west, lodging in some 
of the hospitable Indian towns. This 
Oldham-Hall journey was made In 
1621 — 11 years after the landing at 
Plymouth, and afforded the white men 
their first view of the Connecticut 
river. On their return to the Bay the 
tourists reported themselves as much 
pleased with the big river which 
abounded in the choicest kinds of fish, 
while the meadows in the broad valley 
produced weighty crops of corn and 
fruits and the adjacent forests teemed 
with game. Then followed a western 
fever, the English wearing smooth the 
ancient paths as they moved in in- 
creasing numbers from the seaboard 
to the river where they found many 
a "Spring" in the "field," from which 
fact the city of Springfield derived its 
name. This exodus of people from 
ocean to river was the ante-type of a 
later "western fever" when the set- 
tlers of Berkshire county journeyed 
in their emigrant wagons to homes on 
the lake-shore, on the western reserve, 
in Ohio, on the margin of Lake Erie. 

This Bay Path or "Old Indian Path" 
as it was frequently called, ran very 
near the s^ite of the Woman's reforma- 
tory, near South Framingham, just 
over the Sherborn town line. The 
circuitous character of these Indian 
paths which Dr. Holland named 
"Threads of soil," reminds us of the 
streets of Boston in the olden time 
which streets were reported to have 
been so exceedingly crooKed that it 
was impossible for the American 
troops to overtake the Britishers on 
their retreat from the city. 

A journey was made over the 
"northern route" in 1645 by .John Win- 
throp, .Ir. : when he left Boston it was 
his intention to abandon the Spring- 
field path and pass on into the Mo- 
hican country; but a snowstorm 
arrived about that time and he failed 
to identify his way. He then made 
an attempt to reach his black lead 



Indian Paths and Trails. 5 

mine, but again he lost his bearings, path lies for a considerable distance 
On his second day out of Boston he through woods where the land has 
reached the bank of the Nipnet river never been worked and can be easily 
(the Blackstone), having traveled 30 traced. It is on land owned by this 
miles in two days. The third night town (Ashland), by the town farm, 
he passed in the woods, and the and by myself, to some extent corre- 
fourth, which was very cold, in a wig- spends with an old cartroad, just 
wam beyond Quaboag (Brookfield). above Wildwood cemetery in this 
The next morning he encountered town, and is clearly the old Indian 
some Indians who informed him that trail." Without doubt there are own- 
he had missed his mine property and ers of woodland along this route who, 
was then headed toward Springfield, if inclined, could find similar evi- 
whither he arrived after six days' dences of the ancient path, 
travel — about as many days for the It is a fact worth the mention that 
journey as can now be made in six the main street in Westboro is the 
hours. precise development of the "Old Con- 

In 1635, two years after Oldham and necticut Road;" this trail is distin- 
Hall made their excursion to the Con- guished by a camp supposed to have 
necticut river, to which a reference been located near a corner of the farm 
has already been made, 60 men, of the present Westboro hospital, 
women and children went over the Here there was annually held an In- 
same route driving before them their dian "corn dance" at which corn was 
cows, horses and swine. After a roasted and fish broiled, the serving 
tedious and difficult journey they of "light refreshments" being fol- 
safely arrived at their destination. Tn lowed by a dance and the accompany- 
the same year 12 of the men of the ing orchestra comprising a single 
party returned over this path to the "tambo" or drum, which furnished 
Bay, but in the progress of the jour- acceptable "tum-tum" music for In- 
ney one of the number was lost, but dian maidens and their lovers as they 
whether by death or by straying from tripped the light fantastic toe. 
the way is not stated. In 1636 Rev. There were long-distance paths 
Thomas Hooker of Newtown,now Cam from the seaboard, from Boston to 
bridge, with his congregation traveled New London, Ct, which approached 
over the Path to the Connecticut; each other as they extended into the 
they had no cover but the heavens nor interior, finally uniting in one great 
any lodgings save the simple accom- path; and then, after reaching Qua- 
modations afforded by nature. They boag-Old-Fort, near Sherman pond in 
drove 100 head of cattle, subsisting on Brimfield, stretched away in diverging 
the milk of their cows, carrying with lines toward various points whither 
them their packs, arms and utensils the interests of the Indians led. The 
for cooking and being two weeks on great western route passed north of 
the road. We can readily imagine the Steerage Rock, Brimfield, then di- 
persistent straggling of the cattle from verged into four paths; one to Spring- 
the narrow road — especially the re- field, a second to Palmer, a third to 
fractory swine — with all the resulting the Ware River falls, and the fourth 
vexatious delays. to the Indian village of Wickabaug, 

The path which this party and their now West Brookfield. The character 
cattle followed commenced at Water- of the country between the eastern 
town continuing up to Framingham, and western set of paths, for a dis- 
and was named a "highway" as early tance of 20 miles both north and south 
as 1648. It crossed the territory is peculiarly obstructive to the laying 
which is now the line of the Boston & out of an east and west thoroughfare 
Albany railroad a few rods below — so much so that even to this day 
where is the site of the railroad no road has been made or path found 
station in South Framingham; of its in that direction, excepting where the 
continuance an Ashland friend writes valley of the Quinnebaug river fur- 
us: "I have found the old trail lead- nishes an available way. In the cen- 
ing directly from South Framingham terof this midway territory is the town 
to the ford on Cold Spring Brook; this of Sturbridge. The traveler by car- 



6 Indian Paths and Trails. 

riage between Oxford and Springfield from his own Boston Inn.located where 
may not be aware of the fact, but fact St. Paul's church now stands, his 
it is, that a drive from either of these stage stopping the first night out at 
two places over the direct county road the "Pease Tavern" in Shrewsbury, 
will be along the great road to Stur- These stage lines afforded oppor- 
bridge — which road is the legitimate tunities for as spirited competition as 
successor of the Indian trail. ever attended travel on steam or 
As a white man's bridle-way and electric railways. The double spans 
cart road the Bay Path was opened of horses were urged onward at their 
by William Pynchon, the "Father of highest speed. Alice Morse Earle, in 
Springfield," a magistrate of such her intensely interesting work en- 
probity and renown that he alone, of titled, "Stage Coach and Tavern 
all the settlers in that vicinity, was Days," illustrates our statement, cit- 
allowed a building lot of ten acres, ing in substance, the fact that the 
an inducement to the honest enforce- horses on the Cleveland & Pittsburg 
ment of law by magistrates which has stage road were changed every ten 
become obsolete. The Indian path miles, the relay being completed wich 
was opened immediately after Mr. so much haste that when ready to 
Pynchon established his trading post start the stage had not done rocking! 
at Springfield, and his was the only The stage was at length obliged to 
road from Springfield to Boston until give way to the railroad engine which 
1648, a period of ten or twelve years, was often run at great speed, es- 
when a new route was fcamd leading pecially when conveying north the 
around through Lancaster, and this president's message from Washington 
way was superseded, in 1673, by a to Boston. We recall the fact that, in 
county road laid out through Marlboro 1844, President Polk's message was 
to Worcester, and on to Brookfield, thus sent north, the whistle of the 
etc., Over the Springfield-Boston line locomotive sounding its note of warn- 
the members of the Great and General ing continuously over the entire line. 
Court went to Boston, and thus the But the fabulous story current in the 
artery connecting the distant settle- neighborhood, where was the writer's 
ment on the Connecticut river with the early home, that at the opening of the 
main body of the Masachusetts colony Boston & Worcester railroad the 
throbbed more freely under the life train would pass so rapidly the eye 
and influence of the growing heart of would not catch the view unless very 
the embryotic commonwealth. closely watching, was long ago con- 
In 1808 the eastern half of this signed to the shelf on which repose 
route was seriously injured by the so many modern romantic narratives, 
laying out of a turnpike between Bos- The stage-coach routes through the 
ton and Worcester, Capt. Pease of state resulted in the establishment of 
Shrewsbury establishing the first many hotels' — taverns as called in 
stage-coach line between Boston and those times. The only ones which I 
Hartford with rates fixed at $10 a shall mention was the historic Way- 
trip. It is probable that for the con- side Inn in Sudbury, and the Frank- 
venience of the traveler stones were land House in Hopkinton. now Ash- 
set by the wayside, stating the dis- land, which was perhaps better known 
tance from Boston, one of which was as a private mansion. Edwin L. Byn- 
have frequently seen in Framingham ner, a former Clinton school-boy, and 
Center which, in scarcely legible let- the son of the editor of the "Courant" 
ters, reads: "21 miles from Boston" — 50 years since, based on these facts 
which fact recalls the experience of a his well known and charming story. 
New England girl who, traveling in- "Agnes Surriage." 

land, mistook the inscription on the Returning to "trails" — One was es- 

first stone out of the city in the state- tablished starting from Cambridge; it 

ment which read: "1 m from Boston," did not cross any considerable stream 

quoting it "I'm from Boston," and ex- which required fording. It led the 

claiming while she appropriated the pedestrian up the north bank of the 

statement, "That's sufficient, so am I." Charles river to Waltham Center, 

Capt. Pease's departure in Boston was thence leading to the northerly end of 



Indian Paths and Trails. 



Lake Cochituate, then past Mt. Nob- 
scot, an elevation readily seen from 
the car-window and situated in the 
northerly part of the town of Fram- 
ingham, where it struck the path pre- 
viously mentioned. But a few years 
ago, in Framingham, quantities of 
stone implements and indications of 
wigwam sites were found, readily 
showing not only the line of the trail 
but also the location of Indian vil- 
lages:; and near the Path in the valley 
of the Quinebaug river have been 
found many mortars and pestles, also 
blank-blades which by the local arrow- 
head maker were transformed into 
perforators, spears, scalping-knives, 
chisels, tomahawks, axes, etc. — the 
raw material being stored in the 
ground for use. 

The Path which diverged at Way- 
land, "Happy Hollow,"passed through 
Nobscot s'ettlement in Framingham, 
then on to Marlboro, and was un- 
doubtedly a trail which led the 
traveler to the summit of Watto- 
quottoc Hill in Bolton, from which he 
had his first view across the wooded 
valley to the shapely dome of Wa- 
chusett in the west, and northwardly 
to the sharp cone of Monadnock. The 
path then led down the hill, over the 
"Grassie road" to Lancaster Old Com- 
mon, proceeding westerly by the wad- 
ing place on the south branch of the 
Nashua river near the residence of the 
late D. H. Bemis, on the Neck road, 
or perhaps crossing near the Atherton 
bridge. The traveler then moved in 
a westerly direction by the land where 
the house of Horatio D. Humphrey 
was later built, through to Maplehurst 
at the foot of George Hill, and up the 
hill, where there was an Indian trad- 
ing post. This trail for many years 
was the main line of travel between 
this section of country and Boston, 
and over which, in subseonent years, 
the white residents of the lower settle- 
ments .loui-neyed when on their hunt- 
ing trips to the interior. As the 
George Hill camn was a grand center 
of bus'ness in this part of the countrv 
there muFt have been a well-worn 
path from, the hill to Lake Washacum, 
where dwelt the Indian chieftain, 
Sho^an. It was but a few years ago 
that traces of a trail were visible, 
leading down the hill from the camp 



passing along on the easterly slope of 
George Hill, where old cellars and 
also well-holes, now filled with stones, 
served to tell the antiquarians the lo- 
cation of the early white settlers who 
were the successors of the ancient red 
men of these forests at a time when 
they covered this section. Fading evi- 
dences of cellars may yet be seen east 
of the Nashua river and north of High 
bridge in near proximity to the trail 
which crossed the river a short dis- 
tance below. There is no doubt that 
the original route of the old county 
road, now "Main street" in this town, 
followed a trail which led Worcester- 
ward via Washacum where there was 
a "junction station;" and in olden 
times there prevailed a rumor in this 
vicinity of proofs of two Indian resi- 
dences on the line of what might have 
been a trail leading up the brook 
which flows across the foot of the 
present Church street. 

The present roads from town to 
town came into existence by a sort of 
evolutionary process — trail, path, 
cartroad, broad highway. Blazed 
ti'ees have been supplanted by guide- 
board fists, which is a more intelligible 
method of telling the story than one 
which, some years since we discovered 
among the Pennsylvania Dutch. In 
answer to a question as to the route to 
a certain residence the answer was 
returned: "Go two far-sights, turn to 
right, one go-down, cross to a tree, 
and a right smart piece beyond." 
which being interpreted means: "Go 
as far as you can see twice, turn to 
right, then go down a hill to a tree, 
and again as far as you can see, and 
you will find the house." 

A writer who had a permanent in- 
terest in this subject says: "Born in a 
home almost touching the wayside 
of the old Bay Path. I feel deeply the 
inexplicable charm which attaches to 
these old paths or trails. I have rid- 
den hundreds of miles on these vari- 
ous Indian paths and I ever love to 
trace the roadway where is now the 
broad traveled roiad and where it 
turns aside in an over-grown and nar- 
row lane which is today almost as 
much neglected and wild as the old 
path. There still seems to cling to it 
something of the human Interest ever 
found in a footpath, the intangible 



8 Indian Paths and Trails. 

attraction which makes even the sim- dragged. This path was known as the 
plest footpath across a pasture, or up Bay Path, or the path to the Bay, and 
a wooded hill, full of charm, of sug- received the name in the same man- 
gestion, of sentiment. There is no ner as did the multitudinous old Bay 
doubt that the far-away pioneers in roads that led to Boston from every 
the Connecticut valley joyously wel- quarter of Massachusetts. It was the 
comed the appearance of a post rider channel through which laws were 
as he came in sight from over the Bay communicated, through which flowed 
Path, his saddle-bags bulging with news from distant friends, and through 
news of home and friends in the which came long loving letters and 
Massachusetts Orient. But the old- messages. It was the vaulted pas- 
time Bay Path has long ago been sage along which echoed the voices 
changed from a simple bridle-path to that called from across the ocean, 
a well-worn and frequented highway; and through which, like low-toned 
packed horses came and went upon it thunder, rolled the din of the great 
the year round; and hunters in merry world. That trail was a bond that 
parties cantered along its shady radiated each terminus into a tliou- 
aisles, and droves of cattle crept sand fibres of love and interest, hope 
along its solitudes among the swayin..? and memory." 

pines which sheltered from the sun "The Bay Path was charmed ground 
by day and the moon by night." — a precious message — and during the 

The essayist at a recent meeting of spring, the summer, and the early 
the Quobaug Historical society made autumn, hardly a settler at Agawam 
a good point when she remarked that (West Springfield) went out of doors, 
"The Indian trail, later the Bay Path, or changed his position in the field, 
and later still the 'Great Boston Road' or looked up from his labor, or rested 
was to Massachusetts what the spinal upon his oars upon the bosom of the 
cord is to the body, indispensable to river, without turning his eyes to the 
life and action. To write its history point at which the path opened from 
would be to tell the story of the com- the brow of the wooded hill in the 
monwealth." east, where now the bell of the huge 

Every path has a story and the arsenal tells hourly of the coming uf 
burden of every story is need, and the a stranger along the path of Time." 
greater the need the better the path "And when some worn and weary 
and the longer the story. While the man came in sight, upon his half- 
forest trail afforded hints of lonely starved horse, or two or three pedes- 
wanderings in dense jungles where trians, bending beneath their packs 
the beams of the sun never fell, it evi- and swinging their sturdy staves, were 
denced unity of purpose among travel- seen approaching the village was astir 
ers who had a common destiny. The from one end to the other. Whoever 
late Henry S. Nourse once wrote: the comer might be, he was wel- 
"Indian trails were hard to find and comed with a cordiality and uni- 
easy to lose unless the traveler had versality that was not so much an evi 
been bred in the arts of wood-craft." dence of hospitality, perhaps, as of 

We close with a quotation from Di. the wish to hear of the welfare of 
J. G. Holland's historic novel entitled those who were loved, or to feel the 
"The Bay Path:" kiss of one more wave from the great 

"The principal communication with ocean of the world." 
the eastern settlement was by a path "And when one of the sdittlers 
marked by trees a portion of the dis- started forth upon his long journey 
tance and by slight clearings of brush to the Bay with his burden of letters 
and thicket for the remainder. No and messages, and his numberless 
stream was bridged; no hill graded; commissions for petty purchases, th-? 
and no marsh drained. The path led pvput wns one well known to every 
through woods which bore the marks individual, and the adventurer re- 
of the centuries, over barren hills that ceived the benefit of public prayers 
had been licked by the Indians' for the prosperity of his passage and 
hounds of fire, and along the banks of the safety of his return." 
streams that the seine had never 



FEATURES OF SHAYS' REBELLION. 



A Paper Read Before the Clinton Historical Society at its Annual 
Meeting, September 14, 1903. 



BY ATTORNEY JONATHAN SMITH. 



It is an open question whether an sidered — their entire lack of moral 

impartial account of Shays' Rebellion powei^, their utter cowardice, their 

in Massachusetts has ever been boastings and threatenings, their inso- 

written. All general American his- lence and malice, their outrages and 

tories, and the local as well, set forth robberies, apology for them stammers 

its incidents with varying fullness of with awkward qualifications, and 

detail, for it was an important event in justification stumbles with the weight 

the early development of the state it carries." 

following the Revolution. But the But, as in every other popular agi- 
narratives are, for the most part, tation, there were two sides; and 
s*^rongly colored with the opinions of after nearly 120 years one can discuss 
those actively engaged in its suppres- the trouble and its causes in a more 
sion, and also of the conservative judicial spirit than was possible a 
classes, who had no sympathy with century ago. An impartial examina- 
the movement. While some of the tion of the facts, and of the motives of 
hard, economic conditions of the time the men who took arms, will compel 
have been fairly set forth, on the the revision of any judgment based 
other hand, the precise motives of the upon the opinions of those who sup- 
men who took arms, their conduct pressed the movement, 
while in open resistance to the state The chief causes of the rebellion 
authority, their previous record, and were three: 

their character and standing as citi- 1st — The absence of a strong na- 

zens, important elements in the ques- tional government, commanding the 

tion, have not received the attention confidence and obedience of the 

they deserve. In official proclamations people. 

the insurrection was characterized as 2d — The issue by the Confederation, 

"an unnatural.unprovoked and wicked and by the state governments of large 

rebellion." McMaster refers to the quantities of worthless and hopelessly 

men as "mobs and rioters," and is un- irredeemable paper currency, 

sparing in his ridicule and condem- 3d — The extreme poverty of the 

nation of their acts. The Narrative people, resulting from the long war 

and Critical History of America of the Revolution, the total absence of 

speaks of them in much the same manufacturing industries, the ruin of 

way. And Holland's History of West- American commerce, and the crush- 

ern Massachusetts says: "That when ing burdens of public and pr'ivate in- 

the materials of the rebellion are con- debtedness. 



10 Features oj Shays' Rebellion 

It Is with this last cause, and how worthless, notwithstanding the most 
the malcontents sought to deal with strenuous efforts of the legislature to 
it, in some of its manifestations, that compel the people to take it at its face 
this paper will chiefly deal. value. The destruction of commerce 

The strain and stress of the war by the war had driven most of the 
forced the states to act together, and coin, current before the Revolution, 
to support, in the main, the measures abroad. There was no specie for 
and policy of congress. But this aid those who could not live by exchange, 
was often grudgingly given, and some- The few coins in circulation in the 
times withheld from important acts centers of trade were the issues of 
passed for the prosecution of the war. different countries, and their value 
No sooner was peace declared than was uncertain and constantly fluctuat- 
the colonies began to assume the ing. The farmer who wanted cloth or 
powers of independent states. Some groceries had to pay for them in prod- 
openly defied or contemptuously ig- uce. But first he must find some one 
nored the enactments of congress; who wanted his hay or corn and had 
others assumed powers expressly con- the cloth or groceries to exchange for 
ferred upon the central body by the them. This often it was impossible 
articles of confederation. Attendance to do. Taxes had to be paid in cash, 
upon congressional meetings became and if the farmer had no cash the 
irregular, and some of the states re- collector distrained whatever he could 
fused to pay their delegates for pres- lay his hands upon and sold it at 
ence at its sessions. ruinous rates. Whiskey in North 

The articles of confederation were Carolina and tobacco in Virginia, says 
little more than treaties of alliance be- Piske, did duty as measures of value, 
tween 13 independent powers. While and Isaiah Thomas advertised in the 
congress could declare war, it could Spy that he would receive subscript 
not compel enlistments, nor the arm- tions in salt pork. In 1780, Lancaster 
ing nor the support of an army. It assessed a tax of £270,285, 2s, lid. 
could fix the amount of the revenue, upon the property and polls of the 
but its collection was left to the town. At present rates of exchange 
pleasure of the states. Congress this was equivalent to a tax of 
could decide disputes between states, $1,351,42.5, an.l the town's taxable 
but had no power to enforce its own property was not one-half, probably, 
decisions. It could make foreign what it now is. It was of no avail to 
treaties, but not prevent or punish the farmer that his barn and cellar 
the states for violating them. Foreign were full of produce and stock if he 
and domestic commerce were regu- could not turn them into good money 
lated by the states, and congress with which to pay his taxes and pur- 
could pass no law to punish the chase the necessities of life, 
breach of its own enactments. In ^^^ ^^ jg ^^ some phases of the third 
1784, it had broken up in disgust, and cause of the trouble to which special 
the French minister wrote to his mas- attention is directed. Today we have 
ter that there was now no general jittie conception of the poverty and 
government in the United States, distress of the people for the ten 
neither congress, president, nor head years following 1780. There was no 
of any administrative department, manufacturing or mining. At the 
Practically, this was political chaos, outbreak of the war the colonies had 
and the next step was anarchy. an extensive commerce, especially 

Fortunately, however, the several with the West Indies, and the whale 
states had the machinery of govern- and cod fisheries brought goofi re- 
ment in good running order. But, un- tunis. ]\Iany people in the mari .me 
wisely, all of them but two. Connect!- towns had become rich. The whale 
cut and Delaware, following the bad fishery was worth to Nantucket alone 
example of the confederation in the $1,000,000 per year, and 200 vessels 
latter part of the war, had issued annually left its wharves for the 
large amounts of paper currency, whaling grounds. But the war ruined 
which, years before 1786, had become the business, and grass grew in the 



Features of Shays' Rebellion 



11 



streets which had formerly resounded 
to the sound of the adze and hammer. 
The cod fisheries and all foreign com- 
merce were destroyed. The only in- 
dustries surviving were agriculture 
and the mechanical trades, the latter 
carried on in a small way by indi- 
viduals. The nation, the state, and 
the people almost universally, were 
deeply in debt. In 1786 the debt of the 
state was $6,500,000, and it owed the 
soldiers $1,250,000 besides. The 
state's share of the national debt was 
$7,500,000. The law required that one- 
third of this last should be 
assessed annually on the ratable polls, 
these numbering 90,000, which 
heavily increased the burden of tax- 
ation. The population of the state 
was about 350.000, making the debt of 
each individual over $43, as against 
less than $4.50 in 1902. If ability to 
pay be taken into consideration, the 
difference would be very much larger. 
Taxes averaged $50 a year for every 
man, woman and child, or upwards of 
$200 to every head of a family, more 
good money than the farmer saw dur- 
ing the entire twelve months. Added 
to all this was the private indebted- 
ness which has never been estimated. 
From the beginning of the war it had 
been constantly growing, and as tax- 
ation increased the burden of public 
dues pressed more and more heavily, 
esipecially upon the farmer and me- 
chanic, until it had become in- 
supportable. But there was no good 
money to pay these debts with. The 
crops for 1786 were good, and the 
farmer's barn and cellar were full, 
but they afforded him no relief, for he 
could not realize on them enough to pay 
his taxes, much less to buy the neces- 
saries of life. The condition of the 
laborer was even worse; for the little 
work he could find to do was paid for 
in produce which was worthless on 
his hands. 

Other circumstances aggravated the 
situation still more, and finally drove 
the people of the counties of Worces- 
ter, Berkshire and Hampshire, and 
some in Middlesex and Bristol coun- 
ties, to desperate and imwise meas- 
ures. Under a civilization not highly 
developed the people are more fond 
of lawsuits than those of an older and 



more advanced civilization. In 1785 
nearly everybody owed almost every- 
body else, and each creditor tried to 
collect what was due him. If a debtor 
was sued, he in turn sued his debtor, 
and thus actions at law multiplied. 
The population of Worcester county 
was approximately 50,000. In 1784-85 
about 4000 lawsuits were entered in 
the courts of this county. Every law- 
suit represented at least two persons, 
and hence there was one lawsuit for 
the head of about every family in the 
county during tnese two years. 

Tne court of common pleas had 
jurisdiction of civil actions when the 
claim was above £4, with the right 
of appeal to the supreme judicial 
court. The cost of litigation was then 
considered grievously expensive, but 
an examination of the records of the 
court of common pleas shows that it 
was less so than at present. I am not 
speaking of lawyers' fees, for then, as 
now, those were a matter of agree- 
ment between attorney and client. 
But they were much less than present 
figures. 

Herewith is presented a taxation in 
two cases, one in the court of common 
pleas and one in an appealed case to 
the supreme judicial court, both 
parties living in Sterling, Mass: 

Writ, 7s, 4d; service, 2s lOd; entry, 
9s; attorney's fees, 6s; five days at- 
tendance, 7s. 6d.; continuance, 8d; 
present, term, 7 days, 10s. 6d; total, 
£2 35s. lOd., about $10.95 at present 
rates of exchange. Costs in a suit in 
1900: Entry, $3; writ and declaration, 
55 cents; attorney's fee, $1.25; term 
fee, $5; travel and attendance, $1.32; 
witnesses: in district court 50 cents a 
day and 10 cents a mile travel, one 
way; in superior court.$1.50 a day and 
10 cents a mile travel, one way. 

Supreme judicial court, 1786: Costs 
in C. C. P., £2, 3s. lOd.; attendance, 5 
days, 7s. 6d.; attorney's fees, 6s.; ex- 
amining bill of costs, 4s.; total, £3 Is. 
4d.; which equals $15.33. 

Where there was an appearance and 
trial the costs run up to £5 and £7, 
and increased in a similar ratio in the 
supreme court. These figures show 
that the taxable costs in suits at law 
were much less than they are now. 

The actual procedure was much, the 



12 



Features of Shays' Rebellion 



same. But all taxable costs, whether 
of the sheriff, the attorney, the clerk 
or the court, were regulated by stat- 
ute, and there was no opportunity to 
make them excessive, for the clerk 
and the court had to pass upon them, 
as they do now. 

But the lawyers did a thriving 
business. It is said of Dwight Foster, 
of Brookfield, one of the prominent 
lawyers of the county, that his office 
was thronged from early morning 
until late at night by creditors seek- 
ing to collect their dues, and by angry 
debtors invoking his services to de- 
fend them in the courts. The fences 
on both sides of the road leading to 
and from his place were, during the 
daylight, lined with the carriages of 
his clients, much as are the fences 
near the entrance to country fair 
grounds now while the exhibition is in 
progress. Whether the same could be 
said in regard to .John Sprague, the 
leading Lancaster lawyer,is uncertain. 
At any rate, judging by the court 
records of the period, he also did a 
most prosperous business. The great 
hardship to the debtor, however, was 
what followed the judgment. There 
was no property exempt from seizure 
on execution except the clothes on the 
debtor's back. The officer could taJve 
the bed on which the debtor slept, the 
last potato in his cellar and the only 
cow or pig in his barn to satisfy the 
execution. There was no homestead 
exemption. Property at the execution 
sale brought nothing approaching its 
real value, and the debtor could only 
look on while the sheriff sold the 
house over his head and the last 
mouthful of his provisions for the win- 
ter at a fifth of their realvalue,knowing 
at the end that he would be turned 
into the streets with his family. 
People were more stern and uncom- 
promising in asserting their legal 
rights than they are now, and if the 
proceeds of the sale did not bring the 
amount of the execution and costs, the 
debtor was straightway carried to jail 
and there kept so long as his creditor 
would pay his board, or until the debt 
was discharged or friends came to his 
relief. In Little Dorrit, Dickens has 
painted the scenes of the debtor's 
prison, and sketched with a master's 



hand the lives of the unfortunates 
who spent the best part of their days 
within the Marshalsea. They were 
scenes which were reproduced in 
every part of the state in the days of 
Shays' Rebellion. 

No prison records for the counties 
of Berkshire and Hampshire preced- 
ing 1790 exist, but those of Worcester 
county jail for the years 1784-85 and 
'86 show the extent to which the law 
for the imprisonment of poor debtors 
was employed. 

In 1784 there were confined in the 
Worcester County jail for debt, 7 per- 
sons; for all other offences, 4. In 1785, 
for debt, 86; for non-payment of taxes, 
6; for all other offences, 11. In 1786, 
for debt, 80; for nonpayment of taxes, 
4; for all other offences, 4. 

In that proportion, if con- 
ditions and the law were 
the same, there would now be con- 
fined in the jails of Worcester county 
for debt about 560 persons. As a fact 
there has been committed within the 
past three years for debt and non-pay- 
ment of taxes, 15. Those in for debt 
could have reached there only after 
being convicted in open court of hav- 
ing fraudulently concealed or con- 
veyed away their property to avoid 
paying debts,or of having property and 
intending to leave the state so that 
execution could not be served upon 
them. 

It has been attempted to cast upon 
the legal profession and upon the 
officers of the courts and the sheriffs 
some of the responsibility for the 
people's irritation and consequent 
action. The charge is not well 
founded. ' he sheriffs and other offi- 
cers were guided solely by the pre- 
cepts they served; their fees were 
limited by law, and supervised by the 
judge and clerk of courts. They were 
simply ministerial officers required 
by the statute to do just what their 
writ commanded, and beyond that 
they could not go without personal 
liability. The case against the law- 
yers is always referred to in the his- 
tories of the times, and in October, 
1902, a speaker at the meeting of the 
American Antiquarian society thus 
stated it: "During the Revolutionary 
period and immediately subsequent 



Features of Shays' Rebellion 



13 



thereto, a crop of attorneys self-taught 
and of low antecedents had developed, 
country pettifoggers who would now 
be known as 'shyster' lawyers. These 
men were nothing more nor less than 
comorants and blood-suckers; they 
drew their sustenance from merciless 
exactions from a suffering com- 
munity." And McMaster, while stat- 
ing it less strongly, declares "that 
"every young man became a lawyer 
and every lawyer did well." 

The records at present accessible 
disprove these assertions. From all 
known sources of evidence it appears 
that tliere were admitted to the bar 
in Massachusetts, between 1776 and 
1786, inclusive, eleven years, 70 law- 
yers. Of these 57 were graduates of 
Harvard college, one of Princeton, one 
of Brown university, three of Yale, 
and of the eight remaining infor- 
mation is wanting. According to a 
volume of addresses to the Worcester 
county bar there were during the 
same period nine admitted to the Wor- 
cester bar, every one a college grad- 
uate and seven received their di- 
plomas from Harvard. The same 
authority stales that there were but 
11 lawyers in practice in Worcester 
county in 1786, a smaller number than 
have been admitted from one town 
of that county alone within eleven 
years last past and are now practicing 
m that town. This certainly shows 
that there was no crowding to the pro- 
fession during those years. For the 
year ending October 1, 1903, there 
were admitted to the bar of the su- 
preme judicial court for Suffolk 
county 240 lawyers, and 185 more 
took the examinations and failed. If 
any of the 70 admitted between 1776 
and 1786 were "shysters|," it is cer- 
tainly not complimentary to the col- 
leges of that day. On the contrary, 
they were scholarly men, in character 
and attainments among the first in 
the state and many of them after- 
ward achieved great distinction in the 
judicial and political life of the 
commonwealth. 

Doubtless the lawyers of the period 
had a good practice, as do physiians 
in a time ol an epidemic; but they 
are not to be called "shysters" for 
that, any more than a physician is a 



quack because he has many patients 
in a time of unu'^iual sickness. The 
lawyers defended the debtors as well 
as prosecuted them, and could not 
appear on either side of a case unless 
regularly employed. 
The causes of this economic distress 
were deep seated. The people had 
won their independence of Great 
Britain, but the struggle had brought 
them burdens impossible to carry long 
without domestic agitation and 
trouble. It is no surprise that mis- 
taking the causes of their difficulty 
they also mistook the true remedy. 
Loaded down with debt, subject to 
vexatious lawsuits and liable to in- 
definite imprisonment for debts that 
it was impossible to pay, they struck 
wildly and blindly at the grievance 
nearest them, the might and reality 
of which they could see and feel. It 
was this load of private debts coupled 
with the harsh and cruel laws then in 
force for their collection which fur- 
nish the key to all that followed. 

The official documents show plainly 
what the people regarded as the chief 
affliction. In the report of the com- 
missioners sent into the different 
counties in the spring of 1787 to ad- 
minister the oath of allegiance to the 
people, the commissioners said that 
the existence of public and private 
debts, the latter especially, was the 
most operative in producing the 
trouble. In all the memorials ad- 
dressed to the legislature and to the 
governor and council, by the many 
popular conventions held, and in those 
voted by the different towns, the ab- 
sence of a circulating medium, and 
the courts of general sessions of the 
peace and common pleas, are named 
as the roots of the agitation. Other 
grievances are referred to, but these 
two are common to all. Thus, after 
the Middlesex people, under the lead 
of Job Shattuck, had broken up the 
session of the court of common pleas 
at Concord in September. 1786, Shat- 
tuck addressed a memorial to the 
judges, saying: "That it was the voice 
of the people of the county that the 
court of general sessions of the peace 
and of common pleas shall not sit in 
this county until such time as the 
people shall have a redress of a num- 



14 



Features qf Shays' MebelUon 



ber of grievances they labor under at 
present, which will be set forth in a 
petition or remembrance to the next 
General Court." In August, the same 
year, a paper was circulated for signa- 
tures among the delegates to the Hat- 
field convention, pledging the signers 
"to prevent the sitting of the court of 
common pleas for the county, or of 
any other court that shall attempt to 
take property by distress,, and to pre- 
vent at the risk of their lives and for- 
tunes the public sale of property 
seized by distress." The address of 
the people of Hampshire county al- 
leged as the cause of public invitation 
"the expensive mode of collecting 
debts which by the reason of the 
scarcity of cash will fill the gaols with 
unhappy debtors and thereby hinder a 
respectable body of people from being 
serviceable either to themselves or 
community." In January, 1787, the 
people of Brookfield, by a vote, asked 
the governor to adjourn the "court of 
general sessions, and of the common 
pleas,, for the three western counties, 
until after the next general election 
and session of the legislature." The 
town of Lancaster embodied its views 
into a set of instructions to its repre- 
sentative, Ephraim Carter, urging him 
to use his best endeavors to get the 
following laws enacted: 

A law — To ease the burden of tax- 
ation upon tne husbandman. 

Placing a tax upon clocks, time- 
pieces, matches, silver plate, sperme- 
ceti candles, tallow consumed in every 
family above a certain number of 
pounds, cider, painted sleighs, glass 
windows above a certain number in 
each house, commissions of justices of 
the peace, and dogs. 

The abolition of the courts of com- 
mon pleas and general sessions of the 
peacQ and a transfer of their jurisdic- 
tion to the supreme judicial court, and 
in other matters to justices of the 
peace. 

The reduction of salaries. 

The payment of fines into the pub- 
lic treasury. 

To lighten the poll tax. 

Removal of the legislature to some 
other place than Boston. 

Giving prefernce for the encourage- 



ment of manufactures rather than 
commerce. 

And he was to oppose all liberal 
grants in favor of services done; also 
the appropriation of public taxes for 
the discharge of either the principal 
or interest of the state domestic debt, 
except where the necessitous circum- 
stances of the creditors demand. The 
memorial of grievances adopted by 
the convention at Hatfield in August, 
1786, covers much the same ground. 

The one thread that runs through 
all these petitions is the burden of 
private indebtedness, the civil courts 
and their administration of the law 
for the collection of debts. One need 
not smile ;-t this failure of the people 
to see where the real source of the 
matter lay. In our own day, with all 
the added wisdom of experience and 
of a wider acquaintance with economic 
law, one has seen as palpable errors in 
the people's judgment as to the cause 
and remedy for social and economic 
ills as were entertained by the fathers 
120 years ago. 

The one thing the people could see 
was that they were deeply in debt, and 
that, through the action of the civil 
courts, they were liable to be stripped 
of what little property they had; if 
that did not meet the obligation and 
expense of suit they would be com- 
mitted to the debtors' prison. This 
was the peril they were determined to 
remove, and accordingly they struck 
at the civil courts as the chief element 
of danger. It is very doubtful whether 
in the summer of 1786, if all the civil 
courts had been adjourned until after 
the election in the following spring 
and after the legislature then to be 
chosen had come together, there 
would have been any armed resis- 
tance at all. But the session of the 
coui'ts was not suspended, and the 
people determined to act. In August, 
September, October. November and 
December, 1786, the civil courts held 
no sessions in Berkshire, Hampshire, 
and Worcester counties, nor at Con- 
cord in Middlesex county. An attempt 
was made to prevent the session of 
the court of common pleas at Taun- 
ton but the court met and then ad- 
journed. When the time came for 
courts to sit, the people assembled and 



Features 0/ Shays' EebelUon 



15 



with arms in their hands either sur- 
rounded and closed the court-houses, 
or overawed the judges and com- 
pelled them to adjourn without tran- 
sacting business. When the adjourn- 
ment was once made the agitators 
were satisfied and dispersed to their 
homes. No violence was done and no 
Lareats offered beyond what would 
happen if their demands were denied, 
but the officials were given to under- 
stand that disobedience would be at 
their peril. There were precedents 
for this action. In 1774 the patriot 
party in Worcester had closed the 
courts to prevent the chief justice, 
known to be in sympathy with the 
ci'own, from sitting, and there was 
no session for two years. In 1782. an 
attempt was made to break up the ses- 
sion of the court of common pleas at 
Northampton. The leader was after- 
ward arrested and convicted, but was 
subsequently released by the mob. 
The people were determined that 
there should be no more judgments 
and executions until after a new elec- 
tion. The legislature did meet in Sej)- 
tember, 1786, but it had been elected 
before the troubles broke out and the 
agitators had no faith in it. It passed 
one act giving justices of the peace 
jurisdiction in actions above £4, with 
right of appeal, and another suspend- 
ing the collection of debts for eight 
months; but both statutes were 
hedged in with so many exceptions 
and conditions that they brought no 
relief and failed to soothe popular irri- 
tation. The supreme judicial court 
had jurisdiction of criminal offences; 
and those taking part in the com- 
motions, seeing they were in danger 
of indictment for their acts, turned 
their attention to that tribunal and 
sought to prevent its transacting busi- 
ness. They compelled it to adjourn 
without action at Worcester, Spring- 
field and Great Barrington in Septem- 
ber, but later, through the vigorous 
action of the state authorities and the 
firmness of the judges, its sessions 
were resumeu. In the counties or 
Worcester, Hampshire and Berkshire, 
the following year, eighteen were 
tried for high treason, convicted and 
sentenced to death. Between 1787 
and 1789, two hundred were convicted 



of treason, insurrection, riot, seditious 
acts, treasonable practice or kindred 
offences. Some were imprisoned and 
some fined, but no one was executed. 
It is to the lasting honor of the state 
that it shed the blood of none of the 
misguided men who had thus incurred 
the extreme penalty of the law. 

But the authorities had taken strong 
action. At its September session the 
legislature provided for the enlistment 
of troops to serve against the mal- 
contents, and requested the governor 
to issue his proclamation for the 
arrest of the principals, authorizing 
him to offer rewards not exceeding 
£150 for the arrest of any ringleader. 
January 10 the governor and council 
sent to Sheriff Greenleaf of Lancaster 
a list of 16 men of Worcester county 
prominent in the movement, ordering 
him to arrest them. The arrest of 
others was also directed. This action 
with the indictments found by the su- 
preme judicial court, and the march of 
the state troops into the disaffected 
counties, changed the attitude of the 
agitators. Hitherto they had directed 
their attention to the courts; but now 
they were on the defensive. From 
this time, about the first of January, 
1787, their effort was to extricate 
themselves from the position in which 
their own and the action of the au- 
thorities had placed them. They 
awoke to the reality of two things; 
first, that they had laid themselves 
liable to the criminal law, and second 
that they could no longer interfere 
with the courts, either criminal or 
civil. After the beginning of the new 
year their struggle was to gain time 
in the hope of making better terms 
with the government. They were 
poorly armed, and their attack on the 
arsenal at Springfield in January, 1787, 
was to supply this want. When it 
failed, the end of the rebellion quickly 
came. 

The character and quality of the 
men who followed Daniel Shays, or 
sympathized with him, are important 
elements in the case. They 

were the farmers, mechanics 
and laborers; on the other 
side were the conservative 

classes — the merchants and members 
of the different professions. It should 



16 



Features of Shays' Rebellion 



not be forgotten that the former had 
supported the Colonial cause with 
substantial unanimity, while it was 
among the conservative classes that 
the Tories and indifferents had been 
found during the revolutionary war. 
he malcontents were not the rabble, 
such as followed Coxey to Washington 
and crowded the corridors of our State 
House a few years ago. Out of 21 oi" 
the prominent actors who were in- 
dicted for treason in Worcester 
county at the April term, 1787, of the 
supreme judicial court, 15 are de- 
scribed in the indictments as "gentle- 
men." and only six as "yeomen." The 
history of Western Massachusetts, be- 
fore referred to, says that "the leader- 
ship of the movement was exclusively 
confined to men who would come legit- 
imately under the denomination of 
one of three classes: adventurers, 
demagogues and desperadoes — and 
such were Shays, Day, Shattuck, Par- 
sons, Ely. Wheeler, Hamlin." Three of 
these men had been captains in the 
Continental army, one a lieutenant 
colonel and the others were also prob- 
ably revolutionary soldiers. All of 
Shays' captains, so far as known, 
were soldiers in the revolution. Out 
of 40 names taken at random from 
proclamations and indictments grow- 
ing out of the agitation, 28 are 
known to have fought for the Colonies; 
the others cannot be identified be- 
cause their residence are not given. 
Without doubt many if not the most 
of the 28. had been soldiers also. 
Some of them.notably among the lead- 
ers, had fought with Gates at Sara- 
toga, had been with Washington at 
Valley Forge, and Wayne at Stony 
Point. Many had rendered from three 
to five years' service in the war with 
Great Britain. Capt. Wheeler of 
Hubbardston, who commanded one of 
the companies which levelled their 
bayonets to the breast of Gen. Ward 
when he attempted to force his way 
into the court house at Worcester, 
served in the French and Indian war, 
and was a captain in the revolution, a 
deacon of the church, and a man of 
the highest character and standing. 
Tlie commander of the other company, 
Aaron Smith of Shrewsbury, had also 
served in both wars, had been born 



and brought up in the house directly 
across the street from Gen. Ward, had 
been Ward's old playfellow and school- 
mate, and drilled under him in the 
militia before the revolution. No 
rolls of Shays' men exist, but it is fair 
to assume that on them were the 
names of many revolutionary soldiers; 
and if the same proportion held as 
among the officers and leaders, a 
heavy majority of them had fought for 
the Colonies. It would not be wide 
of the truth to call it a movement or- 
ganized and sustained by revolution- 
ary soldiers. They had special griev- 
ances. Many of their debts had been 
contracted while they were absent in 
the service. The state was owing 
them large sums of money for back 
pay and allowances. It had in part 
paid them in certificates which from 
stress of debts many had been com- 
pelled to sell at a heavy discount, and 
these certificates had been purchased 
by speculators for a fraction of their 
face value. The holders were seeking 
to apply the revenues of the state to 
their redemption, thus taxing the sol- 
diers with the rest of the community 
for payment. After a few years the 
soldiers found their little property in 
danger through the importunities of 
creditors, with the possibility of a 
home in the debtors' prison after their 
little all had been seized. Timothy 
Bigelow. one of the most distinguished 
of Worcester's soldiers, spent the last 
years of his life within the limits of 
the Worcester county jail through 
debts incurred in support of his 
family while absent in the war. The 
soldiers of the civil war have received 
unstinted praise for their orderly and 
peaceful conduct on their return to 
civil life in 18G5. But they had re- 
ceived their pay and bounty in full, in 
good money. They were free from 
debt; their places were open and 
waiting for them at good wages, and 
they stepped into them straight from 
the ranks as if they had not been ab- 
sent a day, If the same conditions had 
confronted them which their elder 
brothers had to face on their return 
to private life in 1783, how nearly 
would have come true those gloomy 
predictions we used to hear during the 
Rebellion, that when the union armies 



'V 



Features oj Shays' Rebellion 17 

were disbanded commotion and blood- was a resident of Brookfield. He had 

shed would fill the land? One cannot no education, was ambitious, a good 

believe that the men from Worcester, talker, and had a decided talent for 

Hampshire and Berl.^shire counties military service. He was in service 

who served under Washington were ^^ ^ ^ Lexington alarm; at the 

any less patriotic, or loved their coun- ^^ .., „ „ , ^^.,, ' ^ , 

try one bit less, than those from the ^^"le of Bunker Hill was promoted 

same counties who answered to the ^"^ brave and gallant conduct, and 

call of Lincoln in the civil war 85 he took part in the expedition against 

years later Ticonderoga in 1776, fought Bur- 

The disaffection, while most gen- f ^f ^l,, Saratoga, and followed 

eralin the three counties ablve f.^^g^^^l, ^ay^^ 

named, existed in all parts of the state, J^^- Aiterwards recruiting a com- 

less however in the maritime counties W he was commissioned a captain, 

than in the rural districts. In the ^J^ '^ "^^^ resigned and left the army, 

latter esneciallv in the middle and ^^^^^ nearly five years' service. When 

west rn'parts of^ie sfate.'a maJoSy ^af^Cf "'r^' '" T -"-^^^- 

of the people were in secret or open ^ ^^.^^^ 'Tesfnted onf to cIpTa'n 

sympathy with it. In 1786, Governor H^ ^e presented one to Captain 

Bowdoin had been elected by 5708 ^^^^'^^^^h^u^^' -f/^f/ i'^^f ^°°^ 

votes to 754 for John Hancock, who one, and sold the gift of Lafayette and 

represented the popular party. But f^^^f^ incurred the criticism of his 

in 1787, after all the troubles. Bow- ^'^l^^' °?^.^^''^-.,. ." is uncertain 

doin received only 5150. while Han- ^hether this criticism had anything 

cock had 17040 votes and was elected. ^^ ^,° ^'|J his resignation Return- 

A legislature was chosen which was in H^ ^« Pelham, he was elected one of 

sympathy with his views. The people the committee of safety, and for sev- 

of Lancaster were more conservative eral successive years was chosen town 

than those in other portions of the ^f^Ff ^°- ?^ 7"^^ P°°V having but 

county, and their vote is instructive, i'^"^ property, hampered with debts. 

^ and was vexed by at least one law- 

In 1785 Bowdoin had 38, and Han- s^jt. There is no evidence that in 
cock 1; in 1786 Bowdoin got all the the beginning he was active in the re- 
votes; but in 1787 he received only 38, bellion which bears his name, and he 
while Hancock got 84 votes. The seems to have been drawn into it 
state election was in April, and the gradually by the people's importuni- 
vote of 1787 is fairly representative of ties,and their confidence in his military 
the opinions of the peopile and their talents and capabilities of leadership, 
ideas of how the malcontents and jn those days the village tavern was 
their grievances should be dealt with, the popular resort in idle hours, and 
Whatever Samuel Adams and Gov- shays, of social disposition, was often 
ernor Bowdoin may have thought found there. There the agitators 
about the way to deal with the actors assembled, and formed a military 
in the trouble, it is apparent that the company, and Shays was asked to 
people looked upon the movement not drill them. His proficiency as a drill- 
as a rebellion against the government master led to his being called to other 
or as an attempt at its overthrow, but places on the same errand, and the 
as an angry protest against intolerable leaders, recognizing his many gifts, 
distresses and an imperative demand evidently made much of him. Shays 
for some relief. declared in course of the trouble. 

The nominal leader was Daniel "that importunities were employed 

Shays of Pelham, and for him a word tiiat he could not withstand, and that 

of defence is needed. He has been he entered into the movement against 

denounced as rebel, traitor, craven his inclination." Probably his own 

and coward, and was mercilessly lam- financial condition and his sympathies 

pooned by the wits of the day. At for his distressed fellow citizens were 

heart, however, he was none of these, helps in enlisting him. All the evi- 

He was born in Hopkinton in 1747, dence goes to show that until his 

and at the beginning of the revolution arrest was ordered his intent never 



18 



Features of Shays' Rebellion 



went beyond the purpose to prevent 
the sitting of the courts until a new 
legislature could redress grievances. 
When the supreme judicial court sat 
at Springfield in September, 1786, he 
sent a demand to the court that it 
should find no indictments against his 
men, that no civil actions should be 
tried except by the consent of both 
parties, and that the militia in the ser- 
vice of the state should not be paid. 
All of which the court refused. 

In the following December, he was 
one of the signers of a petition to the 
court of common pleas in Worcester 
county, praying the court to adjourn 
without doing any business, and that 
all business should remain as though 
no court had been appointed. When 
the request was granted, his men to 
the number of nearly 3000 marched to 
their homes. This incident is strik- 
ing proof of the forbearance and self- 
control of the men and officers. The 
weather was bitter cold and the snow 
deep. Most of them were armed, but 
they had no blankets, no rations and 
no shelter. They might have quar- 
tered themselves on the people, but 
did not do so. When the judge an- 
nounced that their demands were 
granted they immediately started 
home. So severe was the weather that 
a number were frozen to death, and 
almost every one frost bitten. When 
the state authorities began in earnest 
to quell the trouble. Shays was the 
first singled out for arrest and punish- 
ment. The feeling was bitter. Shays 
as was true of all the other leaders, 
saw what would come in the end, and 
determined either to fight the matter 
out in order to maintain the status quo 
until the following spring, or else be 
sure of a pardon before giving up 
arms. 

His admission that he would leave 
the cause if granted a pardon has been 
accepted as the confession of a craven 
and coward. If he was such he would 
surely have accepted the offer which 
soon came to him from the governor. 
His position was the same as that of 
other leaders in the movement. They 
had come to see their mistake, and 
realized the peril in which they stood. 
Shays, however, did not desert his 
companions, but clung to his failing 



cause until the end. In all his actions 
as commander, he strove to maintain 
military discipline, and more than 
once restrained his men from imwise 
and foolish acts. But he was never 
disloyal to the cause to which he gave 
five years' faithful service, and from 
all that appears he was a good, law- 
biding citizen in his New York home, 
whither he fled at the final collapse. 
There is no occasion to eulogize him, 
still less is there need to blacken his 
memory. He was a brave revolution- 
ary soldier, and while he, with thou- 
sands of patriotic farmers and me- 
chanics sadly mistook the proper 
method of relieving their great dis- 
tresses, we can well afford to forget 
his errors in judgment in our respect 
for his good service in the cause of the 
revolution. He died in Sparta, N. Y., 
in 1825, at the age of 78 years. For 
many years he received a pension 
from the government for his revo- 
lutionary service. 

The people of the Lancastrian 
towns, so far as known, took no part 
openly in the trouble, with a single 
exception. In March, 1787, the gov- 
ernor and council addressed a letter 
to Sheriff Greenleaf of Lancaster, 
ordering him to arrest Col. Josiah 
Whitney, of Harvard, on the ground 
that his being at large was inconsis- 
tent with the safety of the common- 
wealth. The overt acts, if any, of 
which Col. Whitney had been guilty, 
do not appear. Mr. Nourse, in his his- 
tory of Harvard, says that it was prob- 
ably some imprudence in speech 
which gave his foes a chance to de- 
nounce him as a public enemy, for he 
was a strong sympathizer with the 
malcontents. On his arrest he signed 
a petition to the governor for release, 
and after a confinement of 15 days he 
was admitted to bail. At the next 
session of the grand jury no one ap- 
peared to testify against him. and he 
was discharged. His imprisonment 
did not impair the confidence of his 
fellow citizens, for they elected and 
re-elected him to the legislature after- 
ward. It is not known that a single 
man from Lancaster, Sterling, Bolton, 
or Harvard served in Shays' army. 
Among the several thousand names 
of men in the different counties out- 



Features of Shays' Rehellion 



19 



side of Suffolk, who, in the spring and 
summer of 1787, subscribed the oath 
of allegiance to the government, not 
one appears from any of these towns. 
But a large number, between 150 and 
200 or more, did serve in the army of 
General Lincoln and in the different 
militia organizations called into ser- 
vice to suppress the trouble. 

The probable explanation is that 
Lancaster was an old town, much 
older than most of those west of it. 
Even then it was wealthy for those 
times, and it had many able, conserva- 
tive men, who kept the more radical 
and discontented under control, and 
who threw the whole weight of their 
influence on the side of law and au- 
thority. A majority of the people 
sympathized with Shays and his men, 
but the influence of the wealthy, con- 
servative elements was able to pre- 
vent any radical action. The vote for 
John Hancock in 1787, and the senti- 
ments of the voters expressed in their 
instructions to Ephraim Carter, show 
clearly how they stood on the ques- 
tions of the day. Sheriff Greenleaf, a 
strong man and of great force of char- 
acter, was also a resident of the town. 
The office of sheriff carried more 
weight with the people than it now 
does, and Greenleaf s zeal and activity 
were against the movement and on 
the side of the state. If he saw a dis- 
position on the part of any to enlist 
under Shays, it is altogether probable 
that he used active means to prevent 
its being carried out. In Townsend, 
Groton, Boylston and Shrewsbury, 
which were beyond the reach of his 
personal influence, were many who 
joined the ranks of the malcontents, 
but in the Lancastrian towns such 
action was prevented. 

The rebellion, if rebellion it may be 
called, cannot be justified on either 
legal or moral grounds. Under a 
government where the people choose 
their rulers and make the laws, insur- 
rection is never permissible, whether 
the grievance be harsh and unequal 
statutes or tyrannical and corrupt 
magistrates. But the circumstances 
causing the insurrection were ex- 
tenuating and forbid severe criticism 
upon the men taking part in it. Given 
the same situation today, and what 



would happen? The agitation might 
take a different form, but there would 
be civil disturbance of some kind, and 
action quite as drastic and radical. 
Until by the acts of the state officials 
the malcontents were thrown on the 
defensive, the movement was simply 
an effort on the part of the farmers 
and mechanics to preserve what little 
property they had and save them- 
selves from the debtors' prison. Their 
forbearance and self control should 
not be forgotten. Through the sum- 
mer, fall and early winter of 1786, 
though often assembling in large num- 
bers, most of them with arms in their 
hands, without commissary or quarter- 
master's supplies, they shed no blood 
and did no violence to either persons 
or private property. 

And when the purpose of their 
meeting was accomplished they 
quietly went back to their homes. In 
the last stages, and when it was mani- 
fest to leaders and followers that the 
cause must fail, and that they were 
liable to indictment and punishment 
for grave offences, things were said 
and done for which no apology can 
be offered. Men laboring under just 
grievances, and maddened by failure 
of redress and the fear of punishment, 
are not usually temperate in speech 
or conduct. Attempts were early 
made to fasten upon the agitators the 
charge that they were intending to in- 
vite foreign intervention and were 
aiming to overthrow the government. 
Until after the dispersion at Peters- 
ham, at least, there is no evidence 
that either purpose was entertained 
by any one, and the accusation was 
indignantly denied. In one of the 
very last communications addressed 
by Captain Shays to any state official, 
and dated January 30, 1787, he de- 
clared that the people "were willing to 
lay down their arms on condition of a 
general pardon," for.said he, "they are 
unwilling to stain the land which we 
in the late war purchased at so dear a 
rate." 

But the event did contribute to the 
result which all anxiously desired and 
which was to bring the relief so mis- 
takenly sought. It emphasized the al- 
ready formed conviction of the wisest 
minds in the nation, that a strong cen- 



20 



Features oj Shays' Rebellion 



tral national government was an im- 
perative necessity if the independence 
of tiie country was to be preserved 
and law and order prevail within its 
borders. Probably no other one inci- 
dent contributed so powerfully to the 
acceptance of the proposition which 
had been already suggested, for a con- 
stitutional convention by all the 
states, or the adoption of the constitu- 
tion when it was finally formed and 
submitted to the people as did Shays' 
rebellion. The federal government, 
once organized, under the 



wise statesmanship of Washing- 
ton and Hamilton, public confidence 
was speedily restored and the griev- 
ances which lay at the root of Shays' 
movement quickly disappeared. And 
I have it from the lips of a descendant 
of one of his men, who personally 
knew and talked with some of those 
prominent in the affair, that the actors 
were never ashamed of the part they 
took ,but justified and boasted of their 
connection with it down to the last 
day of their lives. 



CLINTON IN THE CIVIL WAR. 



A Paper Read Before the Clinton Historical Society and Citizens, 

March 14, 1905. 



BY JOSHUA TillSSELL. 



I have been invited to say a few 
words to you this evening on the topic 
of "Clinton During the Civil War." 
When I looked around for material I 
found myself handicapped, on learning 
that no newspaper was published in 
Clinton for nearly three years during 
the war; judge of my disappointment, 
as everyone knows that a country 
weekly newspaper — like a boy's trous- 
ers' pocket — is a receptacle for all that 
is good, bad and indifferent. Foiled at 
this point, I was compelled to resort 
to my own memory, aided by diaries, 
memorandums, etc., together with 
such facts as were kindly furnished 
me by a few of the older citizens resid- 
ing in town at that time, and who, 
with myself, know full well what civil 
war means to the peaceable citizen, 
although not in the exact territory of 
its hostilities. 

After the close of the war a re- 
turned soldier, Lieut. William J. 
Coulter, began the publication of the 
Clinton Courant; the first issue was 
on Sept. 2, 1865. It has been ably 
edited and has maintained its exis- 
tence about 40 years among a whole 
avalanche of daily and weekly news- 
papers, a credit to editor and pub- 
lisher. 

Let us first consider what led up to 
this cruel and bloody war. Soon after 
our Puritan forefathers landed on the 
rock-bound coast of New England they 
planted the "Liberty tree;" it was a 
rare species for that time, a goodly 



tree, and destined to bear excellent 
fruit. The soil being good, it grew 
and flourished for over 140 years, 
when King George III of the mother 
country resolved to appropriate to 
himself some of its luscious fruit,with- 
out so much as saying, "by your 
leave." This excited the ire of his 
colonies, but they remonstrated in 
vain, whereupon he threatened to cut 
it down unless they granted his de- 
sires; this brought on the war of the 
Revolution. You are familiar with the 
result. 

The thirteen original colonies 
(Query: Is 13 an unlucky number?), 
entered into an agreement or compact 
under the title, "United States of 
America," in which they agreed to 
stand by and protect each other. In 
the making of this contract which was 
intended to embrace states which 
might be added later, they 
forgot or neglected to look after 
and kill the worm, human 
slavery, which was already gnawing 
at its roots. Here, let us stop and 
pause, for Massachusetts does not 
stand guiltless of the crime of holding 
human beings in bondage; the time 
was when her people held slaves. I 
am, however, of the opinion that there 
was no race distinction at that time, 
for it is a well known fact that they 
walked in company to the house of 
God, belonged to the same church, 
were christened like other members 
and drank out of the same com- 



22 



Clinton in the. Civil War. 



munion cup. Liberty and slavery are 
two such opposites that they could 
not long exist together without serious 
trouble. Time passed on; state after 
state had been added to the union up 
to the year 1861—28 in all— 15 free 
and 13 slave states. There had been 
a good deal of friction between the 
free and slave states. The election of 
Abraham Lincoln formed a pretext for 
South Carolina — always a hot-bed of 
secession, which state for quite a 
while had been going around with a 
chip on her shoulder — to withdraw 
from the union, which she did first 
and alone, December 20, 1860. She 
then turned her attention to dragging 
her sister slave states into 
the same wicked and unhappy 
quarrel. At a convention 

held at Charleston, South Carolina, 
March 11, 1861, it was resolved "That 
we, the people of the sovereign 
states," etc. The word "united" to be 
forever stricken from their docu- 
ments; then they began to 
look around and see what 
things Uncle Sam had that they 
might seize and appropriate to their 
own use. History tells us they seized 
United States property worth thirty 
million dollars, and this was done be- 
fore war was proclaimed. Outside 
ol Charleston harbor was Fort Sump- 
ter, held by the United States. They 
must have this at all hazards; accord- 
ingly they made an attack, which after 
a short siege fell into their hands, 
April 12, 1861. 

This act aroused the North as one 
man; two days after its fall President 
Lincoln called for 75,000 militia, and 
men almost tumbled over each other 
in their anxiety to be the first to re- 
spond to the call, fearing that the war 
would be closed and finished and they 
would not have a hand in the fight, as 
the general impression was that 75,- 
000 was enough troops to drive the 
rebels into the Gulf of Mexico. What 
ignorance was displayed by every- 
body! The North was not prepared, 
and the Bull Run disaster opened their 
eyes to the fact that they had no 
mean foe to contend with; it was 
rightly nam»'d "Bull Run," as no per- 
son ever made tracks from an in- 
furiated beast as did the Northern 



soldiers from the Confederate troops; 
their faces were not to the foe but 
their coat-tails were. Two of our citi- 
zeiis, Dana I. Jocelyn, principal of the 
high school, and Dr. Benjamin M. 
Pevey, dentist, journey to Washington 
ington and beyond to see the great 
battle to be fought between the North- 
ern and Confederate armies; they saw 
enough to satisfy their curiosity and 
to establish a reputation as excellent 
sprinters. 

Our own military company, the 
Clinton Light Guard, the pride of the 
town, was the first to offer its services 
for the country's defence, and the 
town did all in its power to prepare 
and send them off — with revolvers and 
Bibles — a strange mixture. Their ser- 
vices were promptly accepted, but for 
some unknown reason they were sent 
into camp, where they fretted and 
chafed for neariy two months over 
their long detention. They had this 
for their comrort, however, they were 
saved from the disgrace of the Bull 
Run disaster. This defeat, so disas- 
trous at the first, proved to be a bless- 
ing in disguise, for it aroused the 
people of the North to a greater and 
more determined effort. 
The president issued another call for 
400,000 men. Clinton then set about 
filling its quota; meeting after meet- 
ing was held in the old Clinton hall; 
speeches were made by our own citi- 
zens and others, and a large number 
of our young men responded gloriously 
to the call, and the town offered en- 
couragement to those who would 
volunteer. 

At a special town meeting held 
April 27, 1861, called for the purpose, 
it v/as voted: That the town appro- 
priate $1000 for the purchase of a 
suitable uniform for the members of 
the Clinton Light Guard of the 9th 
regiment. After the above mentioned 
town meeting was dissolved a citizens' 
meeting was called over wliich 
Charles G. Stevens, Esq., pre- 
sided, when Franklin Forbes 
offered the following resolution: "Re- 
solved, that we have full confidence in 
the lionor, manliness, courage and 
patriotism of the Clinton Light Guard, 
and that we adopt them with cheerful- 
ness and confidence as the representa- 



Clinton in the Civil War. 23 

tives of us, our feelings and princi- at the meeting of the citizens on Tues- 
ples." Speeches were made by H. N. day evening last, and instructed to 
Bigelow, Esq., Rev. J. M. Heard, Rev. investigate the subject of Clinton's 
C. M. Bowers, D. D., Rev. W. W. Win- quota of recruits to be furnished in 
Chester, J. T. Dame, Esq., D. H. Bemis answer to the call of the governor of 
and J. H. Vose. Then three cheers the commonwealth for 15,000 to rein- 
were given for the Germans and Irish- force the armies of the United States, 
men who were ready to enlist in de- have entrusted their report to me for 
fence of their adopted country, and presentation to this meeting." Mr. 
also three cheers for Clinton Light Forbes then made a forcible and stir- 
Guard, ring address, advocating attending 
June 1, 1861. the town of Sterling immediately to the call. In the course 
gave the Clinton Light Guard a bounti- of his address he said that he had seen 
ful collation. They left camp June 25, ^^^^^ talked with the adjutant general, 
1861. At or about this time they, or that he remarked that this call was 
a portion of the companv, enlisted into ^^^ *» ^e looked at in the light of a 
the service of the United States, as draft, and in his opinion no draft 
Company C, 15th Regiment of Volun- would be made. Speeches were made 
teers. ^^ several persons, and it was voted 

Af „ +^„r^ ^^^i^-^ -u 1/1 T 1 n -I Of -I that the selectmen be authorized to 
At a town meeting held Julv 9, 1861, . ., , ..^ c 

T m T-> -CI « 1 j^i ip 1, ■ receive recruits, and a committee of 

J. T. Dame, Esq., ofiered the following -,r • j- -^ ^ ■ 4. j j. -j 

™ t-- .<T^i,„4. Ii ,4. , 15 individuals was appointed to aid 

motion That the selectmen be re- „ j ■ 4. ^.i , + ■ i^i. ■ • 

,,^^+^1 4- f ■ u -4. 4.x, \. a-nd assist the selectmen in obtaining 

quested to furnish any assistance that enlistments 
may be needed by the families of 

those who shall be called into active August 30, 1862— At a meeting of 

service, and for this purpose to draw the town it was unanimously voted, 

orders upon the town treasurer from "To pay the sum of $100 to each man 

time to time." who should volunteer under the 

„, . ' . , . , , second call for 300,000 men." 
This was earned, unanimously, and 
a separate account was kept for sev- September 2, 1861— At a meeting in 
eray years with the following result: Clinton House hall, J. H. Vose pre- 
1861— $971.93, 1862— $336.19. 1863— sided, the object being to raise another 
$133.61, 1864— $90.52, 1865— $365.54, company. Capt. W. C. Sawyer of 
1866— $139.50. total, $2037.29. This was Harvard presented his plan for the 
in addition to the $1000 given to the raising of a second company, to be at- 
Clinton Light Guard for uniforms, the tached to Gen. Wilson's command. 
$2000 subscribed by citizens, and Speakers— F. Forbes, Rev. A. Gould, J 
State Aid furnished to families of sol- 't^- Dame, Esq. It is to be presumed 
diers. The physicians also agreed to that Capt. Sawyer succeeded m rais- 
give their services free to families of '"" his company for I have this memo- 
soldiers who may need them, during randum: "Capt. W. C. Sawyer 
their absence from home in the ser- wounded at Newburn, North Carolina, 
vice of their country. amputation of his leg necessary. 

On July 5, 1862, President Lincoln September 21, 1861— Six recruits for 
called for 300,000 more troops, and the the German company of Worcester, 
governor called for ten or fifteen more Louis Wagner, commander. We learn 
regiments, with a premium of $2 for that our German citizens are leaving 
accepted recruits, first month's pay in camp daily for Camp Louis and enroll- 
advance, bounty of $25 to be paid on ing their names in Capt. Wagner's 
being mustered in, and the balance of company; Clinton has furnished 30 
$75 on his honorable discharge, or to men and 21 of these from the Lancas- 
his widow in case of death, together ter Mills corporation. This was a 
with State aid. large number, taking into consider- 
On July 19, 1862, at an adjourned ation the number of Germans residing 
meeting of the citizens of Clinton, F. in town at that date. 
Forbes, chairman, and J. Alexander, December 7, 1861 — At a meeting of 
secretary, F. Forbes made the follow- the recruiting committee, A. L. Fuller, 
ing report: "The committee appointed chairman; F. Forbes, clerk; C. C. 



24 



Clinton in the Civil War. 



Stone, recruiting agent, the matter of 
securing a room for recruiting pur- 
poses and for holding meetings was 
considered. 

November 21, 1862 — A fine sword 
was presented by H. N. Bigelow, Esq., 
to William T. Freeman, a foreman of 
the repair shop at the Bigelow Carpet 
company. Mr. Bigelow wrote him an 
excellent letter, and received in return 
a reply from Mr. Freeman in camp. 
Mr. Freeman enlisted in the 53d regi- 
ment, and was made second lieutenant, 
December 15, 1862. 

March 7, 1862 — Franklin Forbes, in 
behalf of the citizens of Clinton, pre- 
sented a handsome sword to Capt. 
Henry Bowman of Co. C, 15th regi- 
ment. 

Copy from report of E. Brimhall, 
chief engineer of Clinton fire depart- 
ment for year 1862: "The engineers 
have felt that the exigency of the 
times demanded the strictest economy. 
The war has made large and repeated 
drafts upon our engine companies. 
Twice during the year has the fire de- 
partment been called upon to follow 
the remains of departed members to 
the grave who died in their country's 
service." 

Charles Bowman, chief engineer for 
1863, says: "The department has 
furnished from its ranks 109 men to 
answer the call of our country, more 
than one-third and nearly one-half of 
the whole number sent from this 
town." 

Editor W. E. Parkhurst says that 
ten men enlisted from their printing 
office, together with the "office dog," 
but did not say whether the dog lived 
to get a pension or not. No wonder 
the paper ceased publication. As near 
as can be ascertained 37 Irishmen 
were in the service. 

Hon. C. G. Stevens, Esq., received 
an appointment to take an enrollment 
of all citizens in the town of Clinton 
in Worcester county, between the ages 
of 18 and 45 years. liable to do mili- 
tary duty. It was made in August 
and September, 1862, with the follow- 
ing result: Total number enrolled, 326; 
liable, 183; not liable, 143. From 
which there should be deducted seven 
exempted by law as holding offices 



under the govrnment, leaving 136 ill- 
disposed. 

The president ordered a draft, Sep- 
tember 13, 1862. The governor re- 
peated the order, but it was postponed 
several times, and does not seem to 
have been executed. 

In March, 1863, Congress passed 
what was called the "conscription 
act," by which those persons between 
the ages of 18 and 45 years who were 
liable to be drafted into the service of 
the United States, but were excused 
upon the payment of $300. Under 
this act a draft was made and some of 
our most prominent citizens were the 
victims: Hon. H. C. Greeley, Eben S. 
Fuller, Sidney T. Fuller, Wellington E. 
Parkhurst, Charles H. Parkhurst, 
David H. Maynard, George W. Weeks, 
and others — 87 in all — of which num- 
ber 14 were exempted on surgeon's 
certificate, and 17 who were accepted 
paid the $300. 

This draft had to be resorted to as 
something had to be done to fill the 
diminished ranks. The excitement 
and enthusiasm which at first mani- 
fested itself so strongly had begun to 
wane and flag, until volunteering had 
almost entirelj^ ceased; another cause 
was that the strain of hard times of 
1861-'62 had passed. Business had be- 
gun to brighten and men preferred 
the quiet of home life to the privations 
and horrors of war. 

In 1860 Clinton had a population of 
3869— probably 4000 a year after; her 
quota seems to have been 155. Her 
three-year men in 1863 were 216, show- 
ing that she had more than done her 
full duty in her country's cause. 

August 12, 1863 — Conscripts went to 
Greenfield by way of Worcester & 
Nashua railroad to Ayer, then by the 
Fitchburg to Gardner, formed a com- 
pany, slightly military in character, 
.Junius D. Hayes, Captain. After pass- 
ing through the ordeal, the next day 
they returned, formed again at the 
railroad station and marched to the 
Clinton House where they were dis- 
missed, after giving three cheers for 
the selectmen of Clinton, and three 
cheers for Capt. J. D. Hayes and staff. 
The.v reported excellent treatment. 

July 22, 1863 — Rumor says that in a 
neighboring town not 12 miles distant 



Clinton in the Civil War. 



25 



from Clinton, a business man went to 
one of our dentist's office to have some 
teeth extracted; upon an examination 
the dentist demurred against pulling 
sound teeth, but the patient insisted 
upon his performing the operation; 
the operator complied with his re- 
quest, but did not know his object 
until the next day in reading his news- 
paper he found his patient's name as 
a promising candidate for the state's 
rendezvous. Of course he was dis- 
missed from the commissioner's office 
without ceremony. 

Several war meetings were held 
after the draft was made, of which I 
will only mention two. December 16, 
1863 — ^"An enthusiastic war meeting 
was held in Clinton last Saturday 
evening, which was addressed by Hon. 
C. Cr. Stevens, Rev. C. M. Bowers and 
J. T. Dame. Esq., all of Clinton; also 
by Capt. William R. Wheelock of the 
Massachusetts 15th regiment. Four 
men enlisted, and the quota is more 
than half filled; another meeting will 
be held on Thursday evening, when 
Rev. Edward A. Walker of Worcester 
is expected to speak." "The citizens 
of this tov/n are making arrangements 
to present a sword, belt, etc., to Wm. 
J. Coulter, recently promoted to a first 
lieutenancy in the 15th regiment." 

January 13, 1864 — A grand finale in 
the way of war meetings came off on 
Monday night in Clinton. Maj. M. J. 
McCaffrey of Worcester and Capt. J. 
G. Crawford of Michigan made telling 
speeches, as the result proved, for at 
the time of the addresses some ten 
men enlisted, nearly or quite filling 
the quota of the town. Music by the 
Glee club and band. Clinton hall was 
so densely crowded that the foun- 
dations furnished evidence of giving 
way, and a rush was made for the 
door. But the audience was quieted 
and instructed to manifest its enthu- 
siasm by clapping rather than stamp- 
ing. 

In addition to the excitement and 
interest manifested in the volunteer- 
ing and leaving of our home soldiers, 
nearly or quite all of the New Hamp- 
shire troops passed through town on 
their way to the seat of war. To 
carry one regiment it took two long 
trains of 17 cars, each drawn by two 



heavy locomotives. The first train of 
passenger cars was filled with young 
men, and the second train contained 
their baggage. Being obliged to take 
on water at our station their stay was 
pi'olonged for some time. Having re- 
ceived word beforehand of their com- 
ing, large numbers of our citizens 
gathered at the station to cheer them 
on their way, carrying flowers, eat- 
ables, etc., which they appreciated 
with thankful and grateful hearts. 
Many had relatives or friends on 
board the train. The schools were 
excused for a short time to afford the 
pupils a chance of seeing them, the 
boys as they were called, being cheer- 
ful and happy. But to the thoughtful 
mind, to see so many young men on 
such an errand, either to kill or be 
killed, and that by their own country- 
men, was indeed a sad sight; but then 
the motive was to check and restrain 
our Southern brethren from broaden- 
ing and extending the slavery of 
human beings. How could we help 
bidding them God-speed in their jour- 
ney and in their work? 
This cruel and wicked war presented 
some strange experiences which noth- 
ing but a deep love of home, liberty 
and country could produce. We saw 
ministers of the gospel whose mission 
was to preach peace, love and good- 
will to all mankind, speaking night 
after night and urging young men to 
stand up in defence of liberty and 
home rights. We saw the quiet and 
staid Quaker lay aside his honest prin- 
ciples and peculiar garb, for the time 
being, and don the uniform of Uncle 
Sam. All honor to him! 

But what of the stay-at-homes? I 
have sometimes thought they who 
"stayed by the stuff" suffered as much 
as those did who were in service, and 
in fact I have had soldiers themselves 
tell me recently that they thought they 
did moi-e, and that there was 
more actual privation endured at home 
than in camp. 

"Were the times hard?" asks some- 
one. Hear what the writer of an 
article headed "Hard Times," written 
August 2, 1862, says: "Not a man, 
woman or child need to be told that 
the times are hard, they all know 
it, they all understand it; the fact 



26 Clinton in the Civil War. 

haunts us in our dreams, and is ever bills, to be sure, were green, but the 
present with us by day. The pastor farmer was ditto — only a good deal 
sees 'hard times' in the countenances more so. Greenbacks at this time 
of his money-loving flock as well as in commanded a premium of 15 and 20 
empty slips of the church. The law- ?®"^^- National banks had not then 
yer in the decrease of his clients, and }"r'^'^ organized, and one had to keep 
therefore in the amount of his cash re- ^^!f, eyes open, for fear of wild-cat bank 
ceipts. The physician sees the fact ^'"^- ^^ne man asked for some bills 
not in the less degree of patients, for ™^"® before the war. 
persons will be sick, will take medi- Silver coin soon began to disappear, 
cine, and will contract doctor's bills and in a short time there was none In 
be the times good or bad — but in the circulation; then came the dilemma 
ability of the community to pay their how to make change. The traders in 
bills in gold and silver for medical town were, however, equal to the emer- 
advice. The merchant discusses the gency. They issued small cards on 
hardness of the times in the increase which was printed "Good for" (the 
of the slowness and the modesty all amount being written, and seldom ex- 
customers evince in declining to pay ceeded 50 cents), signed by the mer- 
bills till politely requested to do so; chant's name and taken only at his 
and lastly do cotton manufacturers store in exchange for goods. Other 
and employes bewail the severity of means were resorted to, such as giving 
the times as resulting from the almost postage stamps for change. One lady 
fabulous prices at which cotton is was indignant because a certain 
quoted in the market." In closing, the trader gave her rows of pins to make 
writer says: "Let us enjoy hard times, change, but she had to succumb at 
if for nothing else than its rarity, for last. 

since 1775 hard times and patriotic T^i*- Squills prepared some medi- 
times have never furnished one hour cine for a patient of his and told him 
so weighty in responsibility or so after taking it would produce the de- 
honored in importance as the present." sired "change." "What, you don't say 
But what made the times so hard? T\^°''^Z^J' "-^'^ ^ fact" said the 
says another. This I will try to ex- ^^^^or, the science of medicine has 
plain. There were many things that ^^^, reached — Well, said the pa- 
went to make times hard. First, gold ^lent, interrupting him, it is wonder- 
was withdrawn from circulation soon ^}'^\ ^ ^^^ ^ ^^'"l Postage stamps 
after the war began and commanded [ 0'^*°^'/ ,^""^'', "°\ ^^^^ ^^'^ ^,"y- 
a premium at one time as high as "'''^S' !^"<^ the desired change, doctor, 
$2.85. The first number of the Clinton ^eems impossible. 

Courant, in September 30, 1865, gave Personal scrip served the purpose 

it at $1.44. As a substitute, congress, for a short time, until the government 

in February, 1862, passed an act for hegan to issue scrip, as it was called, 

the issue of $150,000,000, legal tender which was small bits of paper similar 

notes, which on account of their color in nature to bank bills, on which were 

were known as greenbacks. An amus- Pointed small amounts, 5, 10, 25 and 50 

ing incident is related by the wife of cents, to take the place of silver coins 

one of the soldiers. Having pur- and was legal tender in the payment 

chased a load of wood of a farmer, she of debts of $5 and $10. It proved 

gave him a greenback; he took it. l-'-ndy and convenient, the only fault 

looked at its face, turned it over, heing that you could not put your 

looked at its back, scanned it closely, hands in your pockets and jingle them 

and then blurted out: "Madam, I don't to show you was the possessor of a 

know but this may be good money, I'ttle money. 

but I never saw the likes of it. Won't The story is told of a certain farmer 
you please give me something differ- going to the city of Worcester, who 
ent if you have it?" She said, "O, after making his purchases, gave the 
yes." She took it back, ana gave him merchant a bill in payment, and re- 
state bank bills in payment, and he ceived for change some of the mer- 
went away perfectly satisfied. The chant's personal scrip. The farmer 



Clinton in the Civil War. 



27 



looked at it suspiciously and objected 
to taking it; lie,however,was convinced 
that was tlie way of doing business. 
A few days afterv/ards he visited the 
city again; this time he sold the same 
merchant some of his truck; a bill was 
handed him in payment; he put his 
hand in his pocket and began count- 
ing out pumpkin seeds to make 
change. It was now the merchant's 
turn to object, which he did most vig- 
orously; the farmer claimed that 
pumpkin seeds was as good a legal 
tender as his paper cards, and that he 
stood ready to redeem them at any 
time when silver coin came again into 
circulation. 

Another element of hard times was 
high prices during the years 1861 and 
18G2 and the first part of 1863, when 
but little was being done and everyone 
had to practice the strictest economy. 
Prices did not advance much, but the 
latter part of 1863, 1864 and 1865, and 
for several years after the close of the 
v/ar. every commodity advanced to an 
alarming extent. To give some idea I 
will mention a few of the articles that 
brought a high price: Cotton sheeting 
and shirting, 60 and 65 cents per yard; 
calico, from 40 to 75 cents per yard ; 
bed-ticking, that usually sold at 15 
cents a yard, v/ent up to $1.12; turpen- 
tine, from 25 cents to $3 per gallon; 
coal sold as high as $14.50 per ton; 
flour from $15 to $20 per barrel; kero- 
sene oil, 38 cents a gallon; raisins, 24 
cents a pound; matches 60 cents a 
gross; butter, 50 to C5 cents a pound; 
soap, 30 cents a bar; vinegar, 42 cents 
a gallon; cotton sold as high as $1 a 
pound; potatoes, 90 cents to $1 per 
bushel; meats not so high as at date. 

The Clinton Courant, September 2, 
1865, has the following: "In Phil- 
adelphia, on Saturday last $1 and $1.25 
a pound was demanded for butter, and 
there were a few people foolish 
enough to pay the outrageous price." 

To add still further to the cost of 
living and enhance hard times, reve- 
nue stamps were affixed to everything 
worn on your back or put in your 
mouth; even an Irishman could not 
light his pipe but he must pay to 
the government a little something for 
the privilege; everything came under 



the ban, and people rejoiced when 

sta.m.ps were done away with. 

The blighting effects of the war 
were perceptib'y shown in the indus- 
tries of the town; business of all kinds 
came nearly to a standstill for the 
years 18G1-2; the streets were almost 
deserted, and a part of the time it 
seemed as though the grass would 
grow in the streets. In shop and 
mill, where had been heard the click 
of the loom or the ring of the ham- 
mer on the anvil from early morn till 
late at night, all was quiet; the sound 
had ceased, for many of the opera- 
tives had gone to their distant homes. 
The Lancaster Quilt company, which 
had been doing a thriving business, 
closed its doors, having at the time of 
its stopping some 700 or 800 cases of 
quilts in its storehouse, and between 
100 and 200 bales of cotton on hand 
for which it had paid between 5% and 
7 cents a pound; after a while cotton 
began to advance in price; they closed 
out their entire amount at 12 cents, 
and thought they had done remark- 
ably well; much to their chagrin ancT 
disappointment it steadily advanced 
in price until it reached $1 per pound, 
and little was to be obtained at that 
price; people ripped open their mat- 
tresses and tore out the cotton from 
their chair cushions to obtain the 
precious article; common cotton cloth 
v/as very dear, as I have already 
shown. Some discreet persons laid in 
a good stock at the commencement of 
the war. The Lancaster Quilt com- 
pany, though they lost on the sale of 
tiie cotton on hand, and could not, at 
first, dispose of their quilts, made a 
large sum of money in their sale at 
the close of the war — enough to make 
them reconciled to their loss on the 
sale of their cotton. 

The Lancaster Mills had a large 
quantity of cotton on hand at the com- 
mencement of the war; the direciors 
were considering the advisability of 
selling their cotton and closing their 
mills. But that noble-hearted man, 
Franklin Forbes, agent at that time, 
interceded in behalf of the operatives, 
a large number of whom had families 
residing in town and who had no other 
means of support. He aho pointed 
out the advantage of having help on 



28 



Clinton in the Civil War 



hand when business should brighten 
up. His advice was heeded and acted 
upon. The mills were run in the fore- 
noon and closed in the afternoon. To 
have people idle even a part of the 
time did not quite suit his ideas. Hav- 
ing been principal of the Lowell high 
school, he conceived the idea of open- 
ing a school in the afternoon for such 
of the operatives as desired to attend, 
which should be free. It was held in 
the cloth-room, at that time in the 
basement of one of the wings of the 
mill. How long it was kept I am un- 
able to state. 

The wisdom of his counsel given to 
the directors was apparent as the war 
drew near to a close; having plenty 
of cotton and the help all ready to 
work on full time, the business was 
rushed; meanwhile the price of ging- 
hams advanced to 39 cents per yard, 
and it was stated that they declared a 
dividend of 69 per cent. — a triumph for 
Mr. Forbes' good judgment. Possessed 
of a kind and genial disposition, yet 
stern and unyielding for the right, he 
not only won the confidence of the op- 
eratives but of all who had dealings 
with him. Those who enlisted from 
the corporation were promised their 
place when they returned from the 
war, or one equally as good. He haa 
a high sense of honor and was always 
found on the side of right and justice. 

The Bigelow Carpet Company did 
not suffer in proportion to the other 
companies in town, as they were not 
dependent on the South for material. 

They, however, were obliged to sus- 
pend operations for a large part of the 
time. I am indebted to Mr. E W. Bur- 
deft, the present agent, for the follow- 
ing statement regarding the amount 
of time the mills were operated: 
"From May 1, 1861, to February 1, '62, 
the works were operated full time 
only for short periods — about three- 
quarters time, excepting July and 
August, 1861 — when they were entirely 
closed excepting for some repair work, 
and September and October, 1861, 
when a small number were employed 
from one-half to two-thirds time. In 
September, October and November, 
1862, the average was less than three- 
fourths time. In 1863 a new dye-house 
was built, and in November of that 



year the Bigelow Carpet Company 
purchased the plant of the Clinton 
Company. The weaving department 
was entirely shut down during July 
August and September. From Oc- 
tober. 1863 to April 1865, the works 
were operated substantially full time. 
In 1864 a new carding mill was built." 

November 22, 1862 — A local corres- 
pondent writing to the "Worcester 
Spy," says: "On Monday last that 
portion of the Carpet Mill which is in 
running order, started up full time, 
and the novel sight of the mill lighted 
until 7 o'clock, throughout the day, its 
entire length, reminded us of the 
times when business v/as brisk and 
lighting up in all our mills was an 
every-day occurrence. We dare not 
predict when those goodly times will 
come round again, but as we noticed 
the illumination of the mill on Monday 
evening we safely concluded the pros- 
pects were brightening." It must be 
taken into consideration, however, 
that the works at that time were not 
more than half the present size. 

It is refreshing to note the interest 
manifested by H. N. Bigelow, Esq., the 
agent at that time, not only ia those 
who enlisted in the service of their 
country, but in the help employed in 
the mills, in the advancement of their 
wages, as the times became better, 
and that without solicitation on their 
part. He also took great interest in 
town affairs; through him and his 
brother, Brastus B. Bigelow. the com- 
pany was induced to make quite a 
present of money to each of the re- 
ligious societies in town. 

We will now note how the different 
religious bodies in town were affected 
by tile enlistment of their members. 
First, the Unitarian society furnished 
the largest number of volunteers — 37 
in all — and the largest number of 
officers. Capt. Henry Bowman of the 
Clinton Light Guard rose to the rank 
of major, and then to colonel, was 
taken prisoner at Ball's Bluff, was held 
with Col. Upton and one other officer 
as hostages for Mason and Slidel. 

The Congregationalist church and 
society furnished 30 members, as near 
as can be ascertained, who were in 
the ranks June 25, 1862, including 
ijt. Henry S. Robinson. Rev. W. W. 



Clinton in the Civil War. 



29 



Winchester resigned to become chap- 
lain of one of the hospitals in Wash- 
ington, D. C. 

From St. John's church nearly or 
quite 27 men showed their interest in 
their adopted country.and proved their 
loyalty by being excellent soldiers. 

From the Methodist church and so- 
ciety several enlisted. I am unable 
to state the number. Rev. W. G. 
Leonard raised a company of volun- 
teers, became captain and then chap- 
lain of one of the regiments. 

From the Baptist church and society 
19 young men enlisted, and all re- 
turned safely to their homes, though 
in some of the severest battles fought; 
one was kept from instant death by 
his pocket Bible, receiving tlie bullet 
intended for him. Rev. C. M. Bowers 
promised to give a large family Bible 
to the first four volunteers from the 
church and society. He kept his 
promise and of the first four each re- 
ceived a large Bible, the cost of which 
was $12, or $48 for the four. He also 
established a weekly prayer meeting 
to pray for the soldiers and the suc- 
cess of our army; this was kept up 
during the entire war. He also held 
a correspondence with the soldiers, 
their letters to him being read on Sun- 
day evenings to a large and interested 
audience. His eldest son, Charles A. 
Bowers, who was then preparing for 
the ministry and had nearly completed 
his course, entered the christian com- 
mission, and while engaged in that 
work contracted typhoid pneumonia, 
which was probably the primary cause 
of his early death. 

The interest our citizens took in 
those who were fighting for liberty, 
home and country was manifested in 
their anxiety to hear from those so 
engaged; every day, morning and 
evening, when newspapers were 
brought to town, either from Worces- 
ter or Boston, crowds would gather 
at the place of delivery at E. Ballard's 
store on High street to secure the 
latest news from the seat of war; 
when battles or engagements were 
being fought it sometimes v/ould be 
several days before the full particulars 
would be given. 

The wife of one of our soldiers read 
in the papers that all the color bear- 



ers of the 15th regiment were killed 
at the battle of Antietam, and as her 
husband v/as one who bore aloft the 
country's emblem in the smoke and 
din of battle she took it for granted 
that he must be one of the unfortunate 
ones, and mourned for him as dead. 
Imagine her joy and surprise after a 
full week had elapsed to receive a let- 
ter from him stating that he was alive, 
safe and well, and had not received 
even a scratch. 

Another wife went on a visit to a 
town in the wilds of Maine; there was 
cue store in the village — a kind of a 
modern department store, where you 
might obtain nearly everything from 
a cambric needle to an iron crowbar, 
and where barrel, bird-cage, coal-hod 
and shovel v/ere all huddled together. 

The post ofiice was kept in a soap- 
box in one corner of the store. The 
store v/as a place where the villagers 
assembled to get their letters and to 
hear and discuss the war news. E.x- 
pecting a letter from her husband she 
went to the office and found one from 
him; she quickly broke the seal and 
began reading the same; seeing her 
anxiety, they enquired if she had a 
friend in the war; she replied that her 
letter was from her husband who was 
at the front. They asked \\o\f things 
were progressing. Seeing their deep 
interest in anything relating to the 
war, and as her letters contained alT 
the little details of a military life, 
such as marches from place to place, 
who fell out by the way, battles, etc., 
she felt no reluctance in reading the 
same; this she did several times, 
much to their great satisfaction. No 
part of our country but what was 
deeply interested in hearing from the 
seat of war. 

A clerk in one of the groceries in 
town, in his round for orders, called 
upon some of his customers and not 
finding them as quickly as usu.al, he 
waited for a few mom.ents, when the 
mother and daughter appeared weep- 
ing. They explained by saying that 
they had just received word that 
"Henry" had been taken prisoner by 
the rebels. Probably they had in 
mind the terrors of Andersonville 
prison. 

Most troubles are borne in secret 



30 



Clinton in the Civil War 



and alone, and it is well that it is so, 
for who could bear all the troubles 
and sorrows of this mortal life that 
would be heaped upon us? But it is 
our blessed privilege to play the part 
of the good Samaritan and alleviate 
a large part of the ills of life, and to 
bind up the brokenhearted in spirit. 
This the ladies of Clinton most gra- 
ciously and heartily did, not only in 
their noble aid societies, but by their 
many generous acts in ministering to 
the sick and wounded soldiers on their 
return to their homes. 

The records of the Ladies' Benevo- 
lent society of the Unitarian parish 
show that from June, 1861, until Jan- 
uary, 1863, the members were engaged 
almost exclusively in work for the sol- 
diers. The meetings held every two 
weeks were large, fully attended, and 
the interest very strong. The society 
sent boxes of clothing and other sup- 
plies to the sanitary commission, also 
to the N. E. Women's Auxiliary asso- 
ciation; many large boxes were also 
sent to the 15th regiment and one to 
the Clinton German contingent in the 
25th regiment. These boxes con- 
tained socks, bedquilts, sheets, pillow- 
cases, old linen, bed-gowns, dressing- 
gowns, slippers, flannel shirts, lint, 
handkerchiefs, towels, drawers, etc. 
The secretary's report for June, 1862, 
says: "It is not hard to work for those 
who hear only the thunder of artillery, 
who scent the blush of carnage, who 
fight that we may have home pure, 
who suffer that we may be happy, who 
die that we may live. Proud that we 
are women of Massachusetts, will we 
not labor for the brave men of Massa- 
chusetts who are away on the field of 
battle?" After July, 1863, in view of 
the activity of the Ladies' Aid society 
to which many of the ladies of the 
parish belonged, and the ability of the 
Aid society to answer all calls made 
upon it for the relief of the Clinton 
soldiers, the Ladies' Benevolent so- 
ciety of the parish, so far as the 
records show, was occupied with other 
charitable objects. 

The Clinton Aid society was organi- 
zed May 1, 186L Meetings were held 
in the vestries of the several churches 
until August of the same year, when a 
room was secured for its use in the 



old library building and more active 
operations were commenced. Meet- 
ings were held weekly for sewing, etc. 
They were well attended and much 
excellent work was done for the sol- 
diers. Individuals and sewing circles 
did work at home and presented ready- 
made articles to the society. Mrs. 
Franklin Forbes was president and 
Mrs. C. G. Stevens was secretary the 
larger part of the time the society 
continued in existence. 

The following is a report of the 
doings of the society for tlie year end- 
ing August 26, 1863, and may be taken 
as a sample of the energetic labors 
of the Ladies' Aid society of Clinton: 
"Clinton, August 26, 1863. 

"The annual meeting of the direc- 
tors of the Clinton Soldiers' Aid so- 
ciety was held at the rooms of the 
society on Wednesday, the 19th inst. 
From the treasurer's report it appears 
that the receipts of the society in 
cash for the year amounted to $566.64; 
of this sum $58.34 was donated by the 
ladies, the same being the proceeds 
of a concert given by them. The so- 
ciety is indebted also to John B. 
Gough for his liberal donation of 
$67.66, which sum was realized from 
the sale of tickets to his lecture on 
'London.' During the year the ladies 
of the society have held 151 meetings, 
and as the result of their labors some 
25 cases of goods have been sent to 
the soldiers, most of the goods having 
been distributed through the sanitary 
commission. Among tlie articles sent 
off by the society are 255 pairs o' 
knit hose, 10 pairs of slippers, 97 
quilts, 43 pillows, 165 cotton shirts, 33 
flannel shirts. 127 pairs of cotton draw- 
ers, 25 dressing gowns, 47 packages of 
lint, 575 rolls of bandages, 60 jars and 
cans of jellies, etc., and 35 bottles of 
wine. Officers chosen: F. Forbes, 
president; Gilbert Greene, treasurer; 
H. C. Greeley, secretary; Mrs. C. L. 
Swan, Mrs. J. F. Maynard, Mrs. S. 
Bowman, Mrs. C. V/. Field— with dis- 
cretionary powers in management of 
affairs of society." It seems from the 
aliove that one gentleman and one 
lady were chosen from each of the re- 
ligious bodies in town — Unitarian, 
Congregational, Baptist and Methodist 
— as general managers, and that tli? 



Clinton in the Civil War. 



31 



ladies chose a president and secre- 
tary to have charge of materials and 
work performed. 

November 30, 1861— The relief com- 
mittee of Clinton sent a large box 
filled with various articles to Company 
C, 15th regiment, then in Poolesville, 
Maryland. William G. Waters, com- 
missary sergeant, after distributing 
the packages, wrote a long and in- 
teresting letter to the Hon. C. G. 
Stevens, secretary of the committee, 
in which he says: "I can assure you 
that our men are very grateful to the 
committee and to all who took an in- 
terest in it for their kindness towards 
them, and many are the thanks I 
have received for you all. After I had 
opened the box in the morning and de- 
livered the packages marked for dif- 
ferent individuals in the company, I 
took it to my tent and spread the con- 
tents out, and as our men came in one 
after another, it would have done you 
good to see their countenances 
brighten up and hear their words of 
praise for friends at home. One thing 
in particular took their notice, and 
that was, as one of the boys said — 
"the good old tobacco." To each one 
I gave (as long as it lasted) one plug 
or hand, and I think some of our boys 
feel as good as though they were at 
their mother's pantry. But do not for 
a moment think that such acts of 
kindness will soon be forgotten by us, 
for it will not be so; we will remem- 
ber it at our campfires at night and in 
the long weary days that we spend 
away from our hearthstones, and ever 
in the hour of danger we will remem- 
ber that we are not only fighting for 
the union and constitution, but for our 
friends at home, who, if we do our 
duty nobly, will ever feel proud of her 
sons. If there is anything that will 
give courage to soldiers it is when 
they know that they have willing 
hands and cheerful hearts to help 
them along; tlien it is they are fear- 
less, active and brave, ready at all 
times to do honor for their country 
and homes." 

On April 19, 1865, Mrs. Roger 



Eccles' friends presented her with a 
purse of $400; her husband was mur- 
dered at Andersonville — she having a 
large family and well deserving of the 
gift. 

Lee surrendered April 8, 1865, and 
Johnson April 26, 1865, and the war 
was at an end. 

The grand finale in the way of 
demonstration came off in this town 
on Monday, upon the receipt of the 
news that Lee had surrendered to 
Grant. The various mills were closed 
as were the schools; at noon and 
night, for one hour, all the village 
bells chimed their song of jubilee and 
guns were fired. In the afternoon 
the "Retreat of Lee" was enacted by 
a squad of infantry whose uniform 
and equipments were supposed to be 
veritable types of those of the rebel 
Virginia army during the past ten 
days. The detachment was com- 
manded by S. W. Tyler, who ably rep- 
resented the fallen Confederate hero. 
In the evening the entire village was 
most brilliantly illuminated to a de- 
gree hitherto unsurpassed in this vi- 
cinity. 

Several times I have been told that 
this country would never again be en- 
gaged in a civil war, but we are told. 
"Let not him that girdeth on his 
armor boast himself as he that put- 
teth it off." Already a wicked sprite 
is abroad in our land, in the form of 
greed; already we hear the mutterings 
of anger and the grinding of teeth. 
Who can prophesy the result of the 
troubles between labor and capital? 
The millennium has not yet come when 
the lion shall lie down with the lamb, 
and a little child shall lead them, 
ne-ther has the time arrived when 
"swords shall be beaten into plow- 
shares and spears into pruning hooks, 
when nation shall not lift up sword 
against nation, neither shall they leai'n 
war aiiiy more." 

God speed the day when the "Prince 
of Peace" shall reign supreme from 
shore to shore, when man shall look 
at his fellow-man, not in malice and 
anger, but in love and good will. 



CLINTON'S MILITIA. 



A Paper Read at a Meeting of the Clinton Historical Society, on 

March 14, 1904. 



BY JUDGE CHRISTOPHER C. STONE. 



The definition of the term Militia, militia at a moment's warning to pur- 

as given in the Century Dictionary, is sue the Indians who had made a raid 

"A body of men enrolled and drilled on an isolated settlement in Ashby. 

according to military law as an armed Col. Samuel Willard was the ranking 

force, but not as regular soldiers, and officer of this militia district for 25 

only called out in an emergency for years. Three of his sons attained the 

actual service, and periodically, for rank of colonel. (He died in Lancas- 

drill and exercise." John Fiske, in ter, Nov. 19, 1752.) His son, Samuel, 

his Amer. Pol. Ideas, says: "Each was commander of a regiment in the 

state maintains its own militia which campaign against Crown Point in 

it is bound to use in case of internal 1755. Three companies in this regi- 

disturbance before calling upon the ment were raised in Lancaster, and 

central government for aid. In times the captains were Joseph Whitcomb, 

of war, however, these militias come Asa Whitcomb and Benjamin Ballard, 

under the control of the central gov- The same year Capt. Abijah Willard, 

ernment." who afterwards became colonel, raised 

In the earliest history of the New a company and joined the expedition 
England colonies we find that train- against Acadia and took an active 
bands were formed for protection part in the devastation of this region, 
against the Indians, each man owning one of the fairest in America. It 
his equipments, consisting usually of appears from a journal kept by him 
a gun and powder horn with two spare at this period that he performed this 
flints, and acting under a leader inglorious service reluctantly, and con- 
chosen by themselves. This was the fessed that it seemed to be something 
militia of those days. shocking. Capt. Benjamin Ballard 

Lancaster and vicinity furnished commanded a company in the cam- 
many militia-men for the Colonial paign against Crown Point in 1756, 
wars. Col. Samuel Willard of Lancas- and Capt. Nathaniel Sawyer and Capt. 
ter commanded the Fourth Mass. regi- John Carter led companies to the relief 
ment at the siege of Louisburg in of Fort William Henry the same year. 
1745. In this regiment were two com- Asa and Joseph Whitcomb, brothers, 
panies of men from Lancaster com- were in command of companies at the 
manded by Capt. John Warner and siege of Ticonderoga in 1758. Abijah 
Capt. Abijah Willard. In 1748 Cajjt. Willard had become colonel, and 
Ephraim Wilder raised a company of Aaron Willard had command of a com- 



34 Clinton's Militia. 

pany in his regiment. A little later was organized as " train-bands " and 
Thos. Beaman was captain of a com- " minute-men." At this time every 
pany in the same regiment. In 1762 able-bodied man between the ages of 
a second regiment was formed in the sixteen and sixty-five, with a few ex- 
county, known as the Lancaster regi- ceptions, was enrolled and in training 
ment. Its first colonel was Joseph for the coming strife. When the 
Wilder, and there were three com- alarm came on the 19th of April, 1775, 
panies of infantry and troop in the the militia of this section had many 
regiment, all from Lancaster. The eager and resolute men prepared to 
captains were as follows: 1st company, take active part in the war which 
Joseph Wilder; 2d company, John followed. On that memorable day 
Carter; 3d company, Caleb Wilder; Capt. Thomas Gates marched with a 
and captain of the Lancaster troop, company of mounted men, known as 
Hezekiah Gates. There were also in the Lancaster Troops, and it is be- 
this regiment two companies from lieved took part in the day's battle. 
Westminster, two from Harvard, one (He was an ancester of the late John 
from Bolton, one from Leominster and Gates of Sterling.) 
one from Lunenburg. Capt. John Prescott, one of the in- 

In 1771 the regiment had been in- heritors of the blood and spirit of 
creased, so that it comprised sixteen John Prescott, the founder of Lancas- 
companies of infantry and two of ter, with a company of minute-men 
mounted men. Until 1774 it was com- also started at once upon hearing the 
manded by Col. Caleb Wilder. Then, alarm from Lexington, but probably 
at the request of the county conven- did not reach the scene of conflict in 
tion, the officers all resigned their time to take part in it. Several of the 
(commissions and the regiment ceased companies in the regiments of Cols, 
to exist. John and Asa Whitcomb marched to 

This convention was held in Worces- Cambridge and took part in the siege 
ter, and the militia was reorganized, of Boston, and later many of the men 
Out of this body of men came the enlisted in the Continental army, 
minute-men who fought the British Col. John Whitcomb was made gen- 
regulars at Concord and Lexington, eral, and took part in the first council 
followed Ethan Allen to Ticonderoga, of war held at Cambridge the day after 
and with Stark as their leader won the the Concord fight. On June 13th, this 
battle of Bennington. This force was same "Hon. John Whitcomb, Esq.," as 
always ready to fight in defence ol we find him designated, was elected 
their homes against Indians or foreign first major-general of the Massachu- 
invaders. setts army, and the following year he 

Seven Worcester county regiments was commissioned brig.-general in the 
were formed. The third, or Lancaster Continental army. His military ser- 
regiment, included the companies from vices and ability seem to have been 
Lancaster, Bolton, Harvard, Leomin- generously appreciated by the Provin- 
ster, Lunenburg, Pitchburg, Ashburn- cial congress, and we find him 
ham and Westminster. None of the described as " one of the sterling dis- 
o]d officers were re-elected. I find no interested officers of the early revolu- 
reason given for this, but it was, pre- tion." 

sumably, owing to the fact that they Col. Asa Whitcomb's regiment took 
were men beyond the prime of life, part in the battle of Bunker Hill and 
£>nd younger men would be more in had five killed, eight wounded and two 
accord with the forced excitement of missing. This regiment was the 
the times. One, at least. Col. Abijah largest of the 26 Massachusetts regi- 
Willard, was a loyalist, and left Lan- ments taking part in the siege of Bos- 
caster April 19, 1775, never to return, ton. Col. Whitcomb's record as a 
Col. Asa Whitcomb of Lancaster was soldier and patriot is not less honor- 
elected to command this regiment, able than his elder brother's, and many 
and his brother, John, of Bolton, was interesting details are given of his 
placed in command of another Worces- career in the " Military Annals of 
ter County regiment of " minute-men." Lancaster." Before the close of the 
Aside from these regiments, the militia war he removed to Princeton, where 



Clinton's Militia. 35 

he died in 1804. In December, 1775, am largely indebted for many facts in 
Capt. Nathaniel White of Lancaster regard to the Colonial and Revolution- 
marched with 46 men to reinforce the ary wars to Mr. Nourse's " Military 
army around Boston. After the evac- Annals of Lancaster." 
nation by the British this company After the Revolution, laws were 
was detailed, with two others, to gar- passed requiring all able-bodied men 
risen Boston. In the following August between the ages of eighteen and forty- 
they were ordered to Fort Ticonderoga five, with a few exceptions, to be en- 
and remained there till some time in rolled and to meet twice each year for 
1776, when the regiment was again inspection and drill. Every man fail- 
re-organized, ing to appear without satisfactory 

In March, 1776, the second Worces- excuse was fined, and a man whose 
ter County regiment of militia was equipments were not in proper order 
organized with six companies from was also punished in the same way. 
Lancaster, and two each from Bolton This law in regard to enrollment still 
and Harvard. Josiah Whitney of Har- exists, and it was from such a force 
vard was chosen colonel. I do not that drafts were made during the war 
think this regiment took any part, as of the rebellion. 

a regiment, in the Revolutionary war. In Massachusetts, after the war of 
Detached companies were sent at 1812, the militia-men were allowed to 
times to various points for short ser- form themselves into volunteer com- 
vice. Many members of both regi- panies and were known as the Mass. 
ments enlisted in the Continental Volunteer Militia. They were obliged 
army. Capt. Andrew Haskell, with a to furnish their own uniforms, arms, 
company of 79 men, was sent to garri- and accoutrements, and received no 
son Hull in April, 1776. Capt. Samuel pay. 

Sawyer, also of Lancaster, was sent The first record I find of any com- 
to New York for four months with 80 pany of this kind in this part of the 
men, in response to a request from state is that of the Lancaster Light In- 
the Continental congress. A bounty fantry, organized in 1825. To show the 
of three pounds was promised each feeling existing among the people at 
volunteer and eighteen shillings to that time I quote from the preamble 
each man for the use of arms and to their by-laws, adopted May 3, 1825: 
accoutrements. Capt. Sawyer's order- "A large standing army being justly 
book is still preserved in the state considered as adverse in its very in- 
archives. Capt. Manasseh Sawyer stitution to the genius of a republican 
with 92 men, was stationed at Dor- form, of government, the main reliance 
Chester Heights for eight months this for national defence is placed on the 
same year, and again in 1778, with 64 patriotism and energy of the great 
men, was among those detailed for the body of citizens. Here we look for 
Rhode Island campaign. A company protection from foreign invasion and 
under command of John White domestic disturbance. On these we 
marched to Bennington in July, 1777, depend for internal security when the 
and served one month and eight days, civil authority is obstructed in the 
Capt. Luke Wilder, with 59 men, proper execution of its laws. It 
served in the Continental army for therefore becomes important that the 
two months in 1779. Capt. Nathaniel militia of the country be under good 
Wright, with a company of 33, includ- ofganization and imbued with a sense 
ing men from Lancaster, Sterling, of the importance of strict discipline." 
Bolton and Harvard, served a few The company by-laws required that 
months at West Point in 1781, the each member should provide himself 
year which virtually ended the war. with a good musket, a complete set of 

From the records of Massachusetts accoutrements and uniform. An as- 
it seems that nearly every able-bodied sessment was levied each year to pay 
man in Lancaster and adjoining towns for the powder used by the company, 
served either in the militia or Conti- These bylaws were signed by 58 citi- 
nental army at some time during the' zens of Lancaster and vicinity. We 
Revolutionary war, and in the majority find in this list the names of many 
of cases efficiently and honorably. I whose descendants are still living 



36 Clmton's Militia. 

among us, some of whom served in of the commonwealth, were the first 
our Civil war. Asahel Harris, who to be ordered into service. Each 
built the brick house on Water street, company was furnished with tents and 
was chosen the first captain. In read- such arms and equipments as the 
ing their preamble we note that the commander-in-chief should determine, 
feeling existing then in regard to a Their equipments usually consisted of 
standing army is the same as held by a musket, a cartridge box, a belt and 
many people of the present day, a canteen for each enlisted man, and 
although the Civil war convinced most in addition, swords for the non-com- 
practical-thinking men that a standing missioned ofl^cers. They were re- 
army was necessary for the support quired to furnish their own uniforms, 
of any government. The commissioned officers also 

The Lancaster artillery, the Sterling provided their own uniforms. 
Rifles and Bolton Blues were among and such badges of office as the corn- 
other volunteer companies formed .n^ander-in-chief designated. The 
about that time — also a company of towns then, as now, were oblgied to 
minute-men from Berlin and adjoining provide an armory, and were paid rent 
towns, called troops then. Nearly for the same by the commonwealth, 
every town in Worcester County had All uniforms, arms and accoutrements 
one or more of these companies, as owned by the officers and soldiers and 
the young men preferred to join them required to assemble on two separate 
rather than to train in the old militia suits, executions and sales for debt or 
or slam-bangs. All the companies in payment of taxes. The commissioned 
this section,except the one in Sterling, and non-commissioned officers were 
had been disbanded prior to the required to assemble on two separate 
organization of the Clinton Light days between the middle of May and 
Guards in May, 1853. At this time the the middle of July for elementary 
volunteer militia of Worcester and the drill, and the division commander was 
western counties was organized as the required annually to order an encamp- 
Third Division of Mass. Volunteer ment of his division by brigades and 
Militia, and was commanded by Major- regiments, at some time between the 
General Hobbs of Worcester. The middle of July and the middle of Octo- 
Division was composed of the Fifth ber, each encampment to last three 
and Sixth Brigades. The Fifth Bri- days, and every non-commissioned 
gade, composed of the Worcester officer or private neglecting to appear. 
County regiments, was in command of when so ordered, was liable to a fine 
Brig.-Gen. Morse of Leominster, and of five dollars. Every officer and 
the Sixth Brigade, m.ade of men in the soldier of the volunteer foot-companies 
western counties, was commanded by received for each day's duty in camp 
Brig.-Gen. A. A. Richmond of Spring- the sum of two dollars and fifty cents, 
field. The Fifth Brigade included the May 3, 1853, Gilman M. Palmer and 
Ninth and Tenth regiments. Col. Edwin 47 others petitioned his Excellency 
Upton of Fitchburg in command of the G9vernor Clifford for leave to raise a 
Ninth, and Col. A. H. Foster of Worces- company of Light Infantry in the town 
ter, the Tenth. The Clinton Light of Clinton and vicinity. This petition 
Guards were attached to the Ninth was granted, and on May 4 orders 
regiment, as Co. C, making six com- were issued for an election of officers 
panics in all, two in Fitchburg, one and also an order directing that said 
each in Ashburnham, Leominster, company, after the election and quali- 
Sterling and Clinton. fying of its officers, be incorporated 

Prior to 1860 the statutes of the into the Ninth Regiment of Light In- 
state provided that the members of fantry. Fifth Brigade, Third Division, 
volunteer companies should not exceed and known as Co. C of said regiment, 
one hundred and twenty, and the The election was held at the Clinton 
whole force five thousand, officers and House, May 12, 1853, and the following 
men. Non-commissioned officers and officers were elected and duly quali- 
soldiers were enlisted for a term of fied: Captain, Gilman M. Palmer; 1st 
five years, and in case of war, or to aid lieutenant, Andrew L. Fuller; 2d lieu- 
civil officers in execution of the laws tenant, Henry Butterfield; 3rd lieu- 



Clinton's Militia. 



37 



tenant, Henry Eddy; 4th lieutenant, 
Alonzo E. Smith; sergeants, Albert A. 
Jerauld, John P. Davis, Daniel H. 
Bemis, Christopher C. Stone and 
Charles A. Pratt; corporals, James F. 
Stiles, Francis Cook, Lysander G. 
Mason and Henry Bowman; clerk, 
Christopher C. Stone; treasurer, Na- 
thaniel C. Sawyer. 

Up to this time no militia company 
had existed within the territory which 
is now Clinton, but several of its citi- 
zens had been commissioned officers 
in the companies of Lancaster and the 
other towns. Oliver Stone had been 
captain of the Lancaster Artillery; 
Nathaniel Johnson of a company in 
Leominster; Jeremiah Barnard of a 
Harvard company and Francis Brig- 
ham of a Lancaster company, and 
others had been commissioned as 
subaltern ofl3.cers. 

The first appearance of the Clinton 
Light Guards in their fine blue uni- 
forms was on July 4, 1853. A parade, 
dinner, speeches and fireworks made 
it a red-letter day — even the ladies 
and Sunday-school children partici- 
pating. I doubt if a prouder set of 
men ever paraded the streets of our 
town. The fact that they had had but 
little military drill did not lessen 
their confidence or the admiring in- 
terest of friends. Among the vivid 
personal memories of that notable day 
I recall the great discomfort experi- 
enced in wearing uniforms which were 
very thickly padded by our painstaking 
tailors, Haverty and Jerauld, who ap- 
preciated the importance of giving our 
figures a martial appearance. 

The Clinton Light Guards engaged 
the services of William Warren of 
Lancaster as drill-master. The time 
was short, as the first encampment 
was held at Springfield in September. 
This was a division encampment and 
included all the companies of the 
Third Division. It was said that the 
drill of the Clinton Light Guards was 
better than that of many of the older 
companies. Up to the outbreak of 
the war they had the reputation of 
being one of the best companies, in all 
respects, in the Third Division. The 
anniversary of the surrender of Corn- 
wallis was celebrated here October 
19, 1853. The Ninth Regiment repre- 
sented the English forces. Col. Upton 



of Fitchburg figuring as Lord Corn- 
wallis. The Continental army was 
represented by several companies of 
citizens and a party of men from 
Berlin disguised as Indians, all under 
the command of Col. Richardson of 
Leominster as General Washington. 
An immense crowd of people assem- 
bled to witness the battle, which was 
fought on the northern slope of Burditt 
Hill. After the surrender a collation 
was served in which the victors and 
vanquished shared alike. This event 
took place where the town hall now 
stands. The affair wound up in the 
evening with a ball, which was largely 
attended. We, who engaged in the 
mimic warfare of that day, little 
thought that in a few short years 
some of our number would be called 
upon to face the realities of war and 
to take part in some of the deadliest 
battles ever fought. 

The second encampment, in which 
only the Ninth Regiment took part, 
was held at Leominster in August, 
1854. In April, 1855, Capt. G. M. 
Palmer was commissioned lieutenant- 
colonel of the Ninth Regiment, and 
Lieut. A. L. Fuller was commissioned 
captain in his place. The encamp- 
ment of 1855 was of the Fifth Brigade, 
and held at West Brookfield three days 
in September. Frederick Sawyer, a 
member of the company, died March 
28, 1856, and was buried with military 
honors. The Ninth Regiment held its 
annual encampment at Leominster in 
September, 1856. In December, 

Capt. Fuller was honorably discharged 
al his own request, and Henry Butter- 
field made captain of the company. 
The encampment this year was by 
brigades and was held at Worcester 
in September. Up to this time the 
Ninth Regiment had been under the 
command of Col. Edwin Upton, but in 
November, 1857, he resigned, and the 
command devolved upon Lieut.-Col. 
Palmer. In February, '58, Capt. Butter- 
field was honorably discharged, and 
Christopher C. Stone was elected cap- 
tain of the company. In April of the 
same year Col. Upton was again com- 
missioned colonel of the Ninth. The 
encampment of 1858 was by divisions, 
and was held at Springfield. Maj.- 
Gen. Augustus Morse of Leominster 
was then in command of the Division 



38 Clinton's Militia, 

and Brig.-Gen. Samuel H. Leonard of as it was decided to send first the 
Worcester commanded the Fifth Bri- regiments having the full complement 
gade. In July, 1859, the company in of men. After waiting anxiously for 
Sterling disbanded, leaving only five several days, we were told that no 
companies in the regiment. more three months' men would be 

In 1859 Gov. Banks ordered an en- sent. When the call came for volun- 
campment of all the militia of the teers for three years the Ninth Regi- 
state at one time and place, and this ment lines were broken and the Clin- 
encampment was held at Concord the ton Light Guard became Co. C of the 
7th, 8th and 9th days of September. Fifteenth Regiment. The old Ninth 
It was an occasion of great interest, ceased to exist, and the field and staff 
The air was filled with rumors of the officers were honorably discharged, 
coming trouble with the South, and In Mr. Ford's "History of Clinton," 
there was an increasing interest in we have a comprehensive and clo- 
the appearance of the militia, and on quent account of the part borne by our 
all sides expressions of satisfaction Clinton soldiers in the preservation 
that so large a force could be so of the Union, 
readily assembled. It was several years after the close 

A United States army ofiicer, who of the Civil war before any attempt 
was present, pronounced the drill and was made to revive the militia. The 
manoeuvers of the force assembled to part taken by the Clinton men in the 
be very creditable. organization of Co. K and the loyal 

July 5, 1860, Joseph Rice of Ash- response of that company to the call 
burnham was commissioned colonel of an oppressed people in 1898, belong 
and Capt. Stone major of the Ninth to the history of later times. 
Regiment, and in August Henry Blow- It has been the object of this paper 
man was commissioned captain of the to show the origin and growth of the 
company. When the call came in militia, and the training of the citi- 
April, 1861, for three months' men to zens in this vicinity for taking their 
put down the rebellion, the Ninth part in the life of the nation in times 
Regiment, through their colonel, of war. 

Joseph Rice, volunteered, and were As to the need and worth of such an 
placed under orders, but in conse- organization, the records of the Revo- 
quence of the small number of com- lutionary and Civil wars abundantly 
panies in the regiment, it had to wait, testify. 



OLD HOUSES IN CLINTON 



JUDGE CHRISTOPHER C. STONE — December 10, 1894 



The subject of the paper which I have prepared for your considera- 
tion this evening is "The Old Houses of Clinton," and in commencing I will 
ask you to go back with me two hundred and forty years, and for a mo- 
ment picture to yourself what Clinton then was. An unbroken forest, here 
and there a little patch of meadow or intervale and, probably, untrodden 
by the foot of white man. The Nashua river carrying, possibly, a larger 
volume of water than at present, run the entire length of the town, most 
of the way between high hills, entering the town at the south end and 
leaving it at the north. Through the central part of the town run South 
Meadow brook, emptying into the Nashua river near the present line 
between Lancaster and Clinton. The water power of these streams was 
of such a nature that it was easily made available for the moving of ma- 
chinery and was early made use of. Within the limits of the town were 
three large natural ponds. This is a brief description of the physical 
features of that part of Lancaster which afterwards became the town of 
Clinton, when John Prescott came and settled in Lancaster. 

On September 20, 1653, the inhabitants of Lancaster agreed with 
John Prescott on the building of a corn-mill on South Meadow brook, and 
on March 23, 1654, he conunenced grinding corn in this mill. This was 
the first building erected in Clinton, and it is reasonable to suppose that 
Prescott built a house the same year, as it is known that his family lived 
here in 1655. There is a difference of opinion as to the location of this 
first house ; one writer locates it near the south-east corner of High and 
Water streets, another near the house on Prospect street formerly owned 
by Sydney T. Howard, (now H. S. F. Sears). Mr. Marvin says "near 
the corn-mill," but his date is 1711 and must refer to the second Prescott 
house. 1 fix the location of the first house on the high land a little south 
of the house of Mr. Dame. I well remember playing, when a boy, in an 
old cellar hole in that vicinity and of being told that it was the site of the 
old garrison house. It certainly was not on the side hill but upon the level 
land. It was in the pasture belonging to Emory Harris. 

I cannot find that any other house was erected in Clinton previous to 
the destruction of Lancaster by the Indians, in 1676 ; still it seems prob- 



40 Old Houses in Clinton 

able that there may have been, although I can find no record of any family 
but the Prescotts in Clinton, during those twenty-three years. On Febru- 
ary 10, 1676, most of the houses in Lancaster were destroyed by Indians. 
The Prescott mills and house escaped, but six weeks later Mr. Prescott 
and the other inhabitants of Lancaster, abandoned their property and the 
buildings were soon afterward burned. But John Prescott was not dis- 
heartened ; on July 8, 1679, he, with eight others, petitioned the General 
Court for leave to resettle the town, and in 1680 he returned and rebuilt 
his mill, and probably his house, as he died here December 20, 1681. 

According to the deposition of Thomas Wilder, Mr. Prescott, six 
hours before his death, gave to his son John his two mills, corn -mill and 
saw-mill, with the land belonging thereto and several other tracts of land, 
but no mention is made of any house. But as there is no evidence of his 
building on his old lot in Lancaster, I think there is no doubt that the 
new house was built here and that he died here. 

The location of this second Prescott house is also in doubt. On April 
20, 1704, an order was issued by the Governor of the Province to the 
inhabitants of Lancaster to repair to their several garrisons, and four 
men were assigned to Prescott's garrison, Mr. Nourse locates this garri- 
son site as southeast of and very near the crossing of High and Water 
streets. Mr. Marvin says: "near the corn-mill." I think there is good 
reason to believe that this house was on the site of the old house in the 
rear of the Woodruff block. In the cellar of this house there was, and 
perhaps is at the present time, an old well, indicating that it was once 
used for garrison purposes. At any rate this site and the present house 
were in the possession of the Prescott family at the time of the coming of 
Poignand and Plant. 

It is impossible for me to fix the location of the next house erected 
in Clinton. Several persons had land allotted to them on the resettlement 
of the town, and their names as far as I can ascertain were Richard 
Wheeler, John Houghton, John Rigby, Thomas Wilder, Thomas Tooker, 
James Butler and John Hinds. There is evidence of an old road leading 
from the Old Common in Lancaster to Prescott's mill and crossing the 
river by a bridge a little way above the island. This bridge was known 
as the "Scar Bridge," and frequent mention is made of it in the Lancaster 
records. It is said that several houses were built on the line of this road. 
I find evidence of three. 

One on the side hill on the east side of the river, one on the interval 
north of Allen street, and one on the plain east of Rodger's mill. 

The first of the three mentioned was on land afterwards included in 
the Allen farm. I am unable to find by whom it was built but it was used 
during the Revolutionary war as a pest house, and the bodies of several 
persons who died of small pox were buried in that vicinity. Fifty years 
ago the land about this place was used for pasturage, and the cellar wall 
and well were plainly visible. Since that time there has been a large 
growth of wood on the land, which has been lately cut off, but portions of 
the cellar wall can still be seen. 



Old Houses in Clinton 41 

The site of the house north of Allen street is marked by a slight 
depression in the ground and two very old apple trees. The land upon 
which this house was built was included in the grant made to John Pres- 
cott in consideration of his building the corn-mill, and may have been 
built for one of his sons, although I have no evidence that such was the 
case. 

The third one of these houses stood on land now owned by Rufus P. 
Boynton, on the bluff east of Rodger's mill. Fifty years ago the cellar 
hole was plainly seen and indicated quite a large house. Round it were 
several very large old pear trees of the kind first introduced into this 
country, and called the "Iron Pear." In 1750, Ebenezer Allen moved 
into this house, and was the last person to occupy it. There is a tradition 
that the first occupant of this house secreted upon the Allen farm a large 
sum of money, and during the early part of the present century many 
attempts were made to find this hidden treasure. 

In April, 1717, the town of Lancaster, on petition of John Goss, 
changed the location of the road from Scar bridge to Prescott's mill, 
bringing the line of the road past and near to the last two houses men- 
tioned, and I am therefore inclined to believe that John Goss lived in one 
of these houses. 

In 1751, Mr. Allen built a grist mill near the spot now occupied by 
Mr. Rodger's mill, and in 1764, a house on the land where the house of 
E. A. Ciu-rier now stands. This house was occupied by the Allen family 
till 1816, and was torn down by Mr. Currier some years ago. 

In 1775, there was a house standing near the corner of South Main 
and Coachlace streets ; it is described as being a small three-roomed house, 
with small diamond-shaped panes of glass in the windows, indicating that 
it was very old. I think this was the original Sawyer house, as the Sawyer 
family owned all the land between the Prescott farm, Sandy pond and the 
river. This house with a parcel of land was given to Betty Sawyer by her 
father, Moses Sawyer, as her marriage portion in 1796. She married 
Joseph Rice and they occupied the old house several years, and then 
built a new one near the same site ; this house was destroyed by fire 
about forty years ago. 

Many years ago, I think about 1 830, an old well, stoned up and carefully 
covered, was found on the eastern slope of the hill near the Clinton reser- 
voir. There were also several very old apple trees growing there, indica- 
ting that at a remote period, there must have been a house in that vicinity. 
James Butler and John Hinds both had land bordering on rattlesnake rock, 
which I suppose refers to the ledge on the east side of that hill ; so it is 
quite probable that this house was built by one of these men. 

Prior to 1750 John Sampson lived in a small house in what is some- 
times called the old "Brick-yard place", near the brook east of the Cath- 
olic cemetery. I think he built the house in 1746, but am not positive. 
In 1780 this house was unoccupied but later it passed into the hands of 
John Severy and from him to Levi Howe, who occupied it many years. 
The house has long since fallen down but the cellar wall still marks the 



42 Old Houses in Clinton 

place which was once the home of a large family, Mr. Sampson having 
had eight children, all, I think born in this house. John Severy also had 
a large family. He died in 1834, at the age of eighty-two, on the farm 
known as the Gushing place, in the family of Winsor Barnard, who mar- 
ried Mr. S.'s daughter. He received a pension for his services in the 
Revolutionary war. John Sampson was also a soldier, having served in 
the colonial war of 1758 in a company commanded by Capt. Asa Whit- 
comb of Lancaster. 

There is some evidence that a house once stood on the side of the hill 
near the foot of Church street. When the brick school-house was built, 
in 1824, in excavating for the foundation, remains of the old house were 
discovered and tradition has it that at a very early period in the settle- 
ment of the town this house was occupied by an old man who gained a 
subsistence by weaving cloth on a hand loom. I find in Mr. Nourse's 
early records of Lancaster the name of Thomas Ross, a weaver, coming 
from Woburn to Lancaster in 1670. Possibly he may have been the man. 
His house was burned by the Indians in 1704. He died in 1718. 

In 1807, there was a very old, unoccupied house standing near the 
house of Patrick Burns on the Rigby Road. This has always been known 
as the Rigby place. John Rigby came to Lancaster in 1654. In 1659 a 
division of all the meadow land in Lancaster was ordered by the Select- 
men. There were thirty-nine persons who had rights in this division and 
John Rigby was No. 34 in the order issued, A part of the land selected 
by him lay on the Rigby road, opposite the spot where the old house 
afterwards stood. There is no evidence that he built any house there, and 
the house referred to must have been built long after his death. He left 
Lancaster after its destruction by the Indians and never returned. Upon 
the re-settlement of the town this land came into the possession of the 
Prescott family, and was sold by Jabez and John Prescott to Benejah 
Brigham in 1790. The house was very old and unoccupied at that tune 
and I think must have been built by some member of the Prescott family. 
Later it was repaired and for some time occupied by Eben Pratt. It was 
torn down by Mr. Stewart when the present house was built, in 1856. 

In 1807 John Goldthwaite bought of Benejah Brigham a part of the 
Hunt farm. The house stood on the southwest corner of North Main 
street and Kendall court. It was very old and had been occupied by Mr. 
Hunt many years. It soon passed into the hands of Nathan Burditt and 
from him to Poignand & Plant. The old house was torn down about 1850 
to make way for a new one. 

In 1796 Jacob Stone bought a large tract of land lying between the 
Catholic cemetery and the Boylston town line, and built a large, square 
house near the spot where Jos. Ledbetter's house now stands, on the road 
to Worcester. He lived here till the spring of 1842, when his house was 
destroyed by fire. An old apple tree and slight depression in the ground 
show the location of the house. 

My object in writing this paper has been to bring to your minds the 
fact that these old houses did exist, hoping that others of the society will 



Old Houses in Clinton 43 

be able to tell us more of them and their builders. I have confined my- 
self with, I believe, one exception, to houses that have been entirely 
destroyed and, in some instances, only tradition tells of their existence. 

Only a part of the town has been considered in this paper. Harris 
Hill, the locality named " Lancaster Mills," and the entire east side of the 
river, with one exception have, for lack of time, been omitted. I cannot 
leave the subject without again expressing the hope that more facts may 
be drawn out in regard to the builders of these early homes and especially 
in reference to the exact location of the first Prescott house. It being 
beyond question that John Prescott built the first house within the limits 
of the town of Clinton, it seems of extreme importance to those of us who 
take special interest in the history of our town, to determine just where 
this house was located, as from that little log-house and mill of John 
Prescott has sprung the large and flourishing town which is now the home 
of so many happy and prosperous people. 



REMINISCENCES OF SCHOOL DAYS 



Dr. GEORGE W. BURDETT— March U, 1885 



After a brief reference to the topography of the country in early years, 
Dr. Burdett said that seventy years ago there were no "sti-eets" in Clin- 
ton, only two '^roads ;" one led the traveller from Groton through Lancaster, 
Worcester and Springfield to New York, the local section of which we now 
call Main street ; the other was the road to Bolton and Berlin, which we 
now call Water street ; here and there were patches of land used for plant- 
ing, with thick woods east of Chestnut street; the territory between 
Chestnut and Main streets was cultivated ; one of the last of the native 
trees which fell was a large chestnut situated between the lots of the writer 
and Dr. Morse. On the west side of Main street there was a forest to 
Rigby road, extending to the south. He said : 

At our last meeting our president took us back 220 years, calling our 
attention to places and events none of us could recall. His very interest- 
ing paper should go on the records of this society. 

I am merely to say a few words, occupying but a short space of your 
time, and perhaps I cannot do better than to commence with my early 
school days, calling your attention to what was then "School District No. 
10" of Lancaster. The first school-house, so far as I am able to say, 
stood nearly where the house of the late Mrs. Abbie Morgan Jackson now 
stands, corner of Main and Sterling streets. It was a small wooden build- 
ing of no great pretentions. There was a fireplace in one corner of the 
room in which large logs of wood were piled, and in cold weather we 
would nearly blister ourselves while warming and so cold were our backs 
that the chills played between our shoulder blades, unless the backs had 
been recently basted with the tough birch or hickory. For it is well 
remembered by some of us that the efficient and successful teacher must 
be one who should "switch" ideas into the boys if they would not receive 
them the natural way. 

My first teacher was a Miss Goodwin of Lancaster. I entered upon 
the duties of my school life at the mature age of three years. Not the 
primary school, for we had no primary, intermediate, grammar and high 
schools, but all entered, progressed and graduated from the same room. 
But not the same teacher. Did I say teacher? Oh, no! We had no 
"teacher" in those days. In the summer we had a school mistress, often 
called "school ma'am," though the latter term was not disrespectful. And 
in the winter we had a male teacher, called school master, and "master" 
he intended always to be. 



Reminiscences of School Days 45 

But one incident of my first school stands out prominently in my 
memory and that I will refer to — (reference being made to an instance, 
where for some forgotten misdemeanor the teacher, tying the naughty little 
boy's arm with "quality," under the threat of practicing the operation of 
phlebotomy, extorted a promise to forever be a good boy. ) 

From this I entered the winter school in the year 1824, this being 
held in the brick school- house, erected the same year and stood very nearly 
on the spot where J. C. Parsons' blacksmith shop now stands, on Main 
street. My first school master was Ezra Kendall of Sterling, a noble man, 
who died two years ago, aged 92. (Dr. Burdett here exhibited a photo- 
graph of the venerable teacher. ) 

About eighteen houses were the number in the district, and yet with 
so few families the school was large. It was not at that day considered a 
sin if there were more than one or two children in a family. They had 
not forgotten Ihe command, "Multiply and replenish." I recall two fam- 
ilies of twelve children each, so you can understand how we could have a 
large school with a small number of families. We were all in one room 
and under the care of one teacher, from the child of four years, in his A, 
B, Cs to the blushing maiden of eighteen and the stalwart boy of twenty 
or twenty-one. We all read and spelled twice each day, from the youngest 
to the oldest, also had daily lessons in wi'iting, grammar, geography and 
arithmetic, and algebra — if the master was qualified to teach it. 

Our rules were inflexible and the punishments following the trans- 
gressions were swift and sm-e. I'll name a few — (mention being made of 
holding down a nail, or suspension by the hands to the top of a door) . 

In those days, as now, there were the two distinct classes of pupils, 
the ambitious and the dull. 

In those times, hard work and self-denial were necessary in order to 
obtain an education, particularly a collegiate one. Still, four entered col- 
lege from District No. 10. Two at Brown, one at Harvard, and one at 
Amherst. These long since "passed on" save one, who is still a prac- 
tising lawyer in Boston, Asa Wellington. The first pupil from District No. 
10, of Lancaster, who entered college was George Harris, who afterwards 
graduated from Brown. But the first from this town was George I. Chace, 
brother of the late Alanson Chace ; he also graduated from Brown, and 
later on was professor and president "pro tem" at same place. He was a 
good type of the old English gentleman. For many years he resided in 
Providence, R. I. 

In connection with this subject of education, I am reminded of one 
incident, in direct contrast with the above (referring to a family, the 
mother of whom entertained the idea that children learned more of evil 
than good at school, kept her children all at home, and just previous to 
her death secured a promise from her husband that they should never be 
sent. When 2 1 , the older boy came into the school barely knowing some- 
thing of his letters, but learned to read dm-ing the winter. ) 

Though we had no football teams, no golf, no gymnastics, still we 
had wholesome exercise, such as sawing or chopping wood, shelling corn, 
picking up stones in fields into heaps, to be carted away, milking cows, 



46 Reminiscences^ of School^^Days 

feeding cattle, etc., etc. Oh yes ! We had plenty of like pastimes ! Our 
recreations were often of an educational character, such as spelling and 
and reading schools, at which times the teacher would be present giving 
encouragement by his assistance. 

(Dr. B. here alluded to the winter customs of representatives of the 
twelve schools in Lancaster meeting together, when the teachers would 
criticise their reading and spelling, the best educated people of Lancaster 
attending and enjoying the exercises— one of whom was Hon. James G. 
Carter.) 

In one i-espect the teacher of that day had an advantage over the one 
of present times. I refer to the custom of "boarding around," when the 
master would visit the different families in town, remaining from one to 
several days as the case might be ; thus affording an opportunity of better 
acquaintance. 

Our church privileges were scanty, but we were taught to observe 
the Sabbath. We were required to attend church and most of us boys and 
girls went on foot. I call to mind two girls of fourteen and sixteen years 
of age, who for eight or nine months of the year missed only two or three 
Sundays, walking the entire distance, both ways, making a trip of six 
miles for one and eight for the other. 

We had but one pastor and one meeting-house. Our pastor, Rev. 
Dr. Thayer, the grandfather of the present Thayers of Lancaster. Oui- 
meeting house is still in existence, the brick Unitarian church of the same 
town. 

In that year, 1824, we were honored with a visit from Gen. Lafayette, 
who came from Boston to Bolton, spending the night as the guest of 
Sampson Wilder. On the following day he was received by Lancaster, 
with due honor. An arch of evergreen bearing the inscription "Welcome 
Lafayette" was thrown from the church, across the street. No doubt 
this arch is still in existence in the loft of the brick church. From Lan- 
caster, this distinguished man proceeded to Worcester, Springfield, Albany 
and on to Washington, where he received the full honors of a grateful 
nation. 

In conclusion I might speak of one occurrence of my boyhood days, 
when I received my first instruction in business transactions, when my 
eyes were first opened to the intricacies of mercantile doings, (relating a 
story of the purchase, for 6:^ cents, of a "Barlow knife," at the first store 
in Clinton — situated near the site of the present Wall Trunk Co.'s works, 
which the seller "warranted," but which doubled up on first use ; the 
seller was remembered by the victimized youth of his promise to "take it 
back," if not as good as represented, which he literally did — laying it back 
on the shelf with his other wares, but declining to return the "fo-pence 
ha'penny, having been discreet enough to refrain from an agreement to 
that effect. ) 

In reply to questions, Dr. Burdett explained how, by "stints," he 
earned his cash ; he also described the decorous manner of those early 
days when the boys and girls saluted their pastor, or the "committee" as 
they entered school, giving also some reminiscences of "master" Silas 
Thurston. 



HIGH STREET IN 1853 



WELLINGTON E. PARKHUEST— March U, 1895 



I give you tonight a few reminiscences of Clinton, as it was when I 
first made it my home, 42 years ago — "Personal Recollections of High 
Street." At that date (1853), which is the point of observation at which 
I gather my facts, Clinton was only three years of age, but old enough to 
go alone without the slightest difficulty. It had a population of 2778 at 
the date of its incorporation in 1850, or nearly 3000 at the time of which 
I speak. It was then a mere village with the tract which we now call our 
"common" or "park" a rough newly ploughed field, with a few sparsely 
settled narrow streets on a hillside which had a brook at its base and a 
forest at its summit. 

The pastors and choristers of the several churches were then as fol- 
lows : Congregational — Rev. W. D. Hitchcock ; Eben W. Howe, chorister ; 
Baptist ~ Rev. C. M. Bowers ; David Wallace, chorister ; Methodist — 
Rev. T. Willard Lewis ; George E. Harrington, chorister, a new church 
edifice completed the previous year ; Unitarian — Rev. L. J. Livermore ; 
James A. Weeks, chorister, their edifice completed that year : Catholic — 
Rev. John Boyce ; a little church on South Main street ; Universalist — 
Rev. Proctor; preaching in Clinton hall. 

Agents and paymasters of the several mills : Lancaster Mills — Frank- 
lin Forbes, with C. L. Swan ; Carpet — Horatio N. Bigelow, with Albert 
S. Carle ton and Henry M. Simpson ; Chnton Company — H. N, Bigelow, 
with Artemas E. Bigelow ; Counterpane — Charles W. Worcester, with 
Augustus J. Sawyer. Smaller concerns : Sidney Harris, combs ; Lowe & 
Gibbs, combs; Joseph B.Parker, machinery; G. M. Palmer, foundry; 
Levi Greene & George W. Dinsmore, steam mill, near depot ; Luther 
Gaylord, forks, at Fuller's mill. 

School teachers : Third, Charles W.Walker ; Second, Perley B. Davis, 
Levi S. Burbank, L. J. Livermore ; Primary, Sarah C. Miner, Emma L. 
Reeves, Urania E. Ingalls, Mary Frank McCollom, Lucy M. Holman. 

The year 1853 was distinguished by two events : June 15th, Lancas- 
ter Bi-Centennial, and October 19th, Cornwallis celebration. 



48 High Street in 1853 



High Street 

We commence our survey on Union street — then a narrow road with 
wide, unfinished, unfurnished, uncurbed sidewalks, and an abundance of 
shade trees on either side, giving the street, as one looks towards the 
north, the appearance of a shady country road. 

On the right corner, where Greeley's block now stands, was a small 
two-story wooden building, without claims to architectural beauty, which 
Lory F. Bancroft had moved up from a site near the corner of Water and 
Main streets. On the lower floor, reached by a flight, not of "winding 
steps," but a long, high flight and by a passage under a piazza, was a 
grocery store kept by a then young man, Josiah Alexander, an emigrant 
from Northfield ; he was a genuine country grocer who well understood 
all the ins and outs of the butter-and~egg market, and knew the latest 
quotations on sugar, Porto Rico molasses and "C. C." dining ware ; his 
hea\'y avoidupois combined with his height at once reminded me of a 
school-boy recitation, "How big was Alexander, Pa?'' — only the remark 
was exclamatory rather than interrogatory ; we later learned that the 
Northfielder had a big heart as well as a large physical frame ; he lived 
with his family in the ell on north of house ; his clerks were : Samuel 1. 
Mills, a shrewd genial character, and George W. Moore, of Rockbottom, 
a young man in whom I, a stranger, took great interest for the weighty 
reason that he had previously attended school two weeks, somewhere in 
another county, with a cousin of mine ; I^Ioore was a person of some lit- 
erary pretensions ; not long afterward there was a new arrival, also from 
Northfield, of a tall, slim young man, Lucius Field, who here commenced 
business, as did one Josiah Bacon who afterwards went West ; the worthy 
proprietor still survives at his home in Maiden. On the second floor, 
Solomon A. Lenfest and his sister resided, and not far from this date, 
Frank E. Carr, of Westminster, who narrowly escaped being a statesman, 
somewhat youthful then, began work as a ' 'tonsorial artist' ' in the front 
upper room. The old building was subsequently moved around upon 
Union street as a part of William H. Nugent's store-block, in rear of 
Greeley's brick block. 

The next block we find is a one-story building— the first erected on 
the east side of high street; here Charles W. Field, of Walpole, N. H., 
carried on business, first as a tailor and then as a clothier, for many years 
and to present date as a dealer in ready made clothing, in company with 
his son, Charles W. Field, jr ; Mr. Field occupied the south store in the 
store-block and lived in the rear ell ; he still remains among us almost 
"as good as new." The north part of the building was leased to Ballard 
& Messenger — later Ballard & Bynner — who published the "Lancaster 
Courant;" the title of the sheet lost the name "Lancaster," and took the 
popular name of "Clinton" at the time when Lancaster lost Clintonville. 
The printing was done in a rear room while the front was given up to the 
sale of books, stationery, etc. — and here the writer enjoyed his first taste 
of the great responsibilities of a mercantile life while, as an evening clerk, 



High Street in 1853 49 

he sold letter paper, sweetly perfumed, and with fanciful envelopes to 
match, to the mill girls, some of whom still reside in town as elderly 
matrons, who do not now buy stationery by the five cents' worth — some of 
whose husbands are here tonight. There was then a restaurant in the 
basement of block, kept by Mr. Carter. 

The upper story of this ell was mainly a hall devoted to the use of 
the "Sons of Temperance" at the head of which was that brave reformer, 
Sidney Harris ; here weekly meetings were held to discuss the chances of 
the cause, also the crisis which ever imminent moves along with the years 
as the shadows scurry across the valleys. 

Now we reach the neat little cottage, built by Thomas Sawyer and 
occupied for many subsequent years by his daughter, Miss Mary C. Saw- 
yer, now of Somerville ; this was previous to the widening of the sidewalk, 
and before cemented walks had been thought of as a town and society 
necessity ; an ample front yard gave the cottage a set-back appearance 
affording abundant space for the development by the owner of the science 
of floriculture ; and here existed a quiet, happy home for many years and 
until municipal improvement, shearing away most of the front grounds, 
inclined Miss Sawyer to remove from town ; the building yet remains, as 
a busy laundry. In our journey down the street we come in view of the 
spacious grounds of the Kendall estate — an apple orchard whose shady 
resorts were the envy of all summer passers on the street walk, as they 
gazed over a picket fence to the terrace upon the shady plateau. 

The mansion was one of the ornaments of the street ; it was entered 
through a central lattice portico at the head of a flight of steps. In the 
south half of the house lived Albert A. Jerauld, a tailor and clothier "of 
credit and renown" who, with his amiable wife, was the life of the social 
circles ; of his three sons, one remains with us to this day and follows his 
father's calling ; previous to our date of forty-two years ago, Charles G. 
Stevens, a newly married lawyer from New Hampsliire, had reasonably 
concluded that this little Massachusetts village was a promising field for 
the practice of his profession, and occupied this tenement before building 
his new house a long way up the hill, on corner of Church and Chestnut 
streets, then in the outer-most bounds of settlement, where he has since 
resided ; later, Benjamin Randall Smith lived here, also the venerable Dr. 
Pierson T. Kendall ; Dr. Kendall had long practiced in Sterling, and in a 
wide region of country ; with his matronly wife and accomplished daughter, 
Hattie, a family was here established from whose tent the curtain never 
outward swung. Henry C. Greeley and George B. Wooster were later 
tenants. 

In the north half of the house resided Geo. H. Kendall, who with his 
wife is kindly remembered by many Clinton people ; the latter survives 
her husband and lives in Worcester with a son ; their Clinton home was a 
rendezvous for the cultivated young people of those long-ago years, who 
were always accorded a right royal welcome. The old mansion, retaining 
much of its early appearance, but lacking the roomy and shady surround- 
ings, now exists in the rear of its former site, being known as the "Union 
House." 



50 High Street in 1853 

Continuing our walk of inspection, we come to the " Kendall store" 
block — a mercantile arcade of the early years of our town ; it was a two- 
story building, with wings of generous extent on either side ; a piazza ran 
the entire length of the front, and the grounds between the block and the 
street were ample : in those days the town fathers saw no incompatibility 
in a close association of business and shade-trees. 

In the south wing the traffic was in groceries, by Carter & Harlow, 
who had a procession of successors in (William N.) Peirce & Howell, the 
Brothers Churchill, Thomas A. McQuaid and Daniel A. White. 

The center store was the most roomy of any in town ; this was occu- 
pied by George H. Kendall as a dry goods store, where, with an inherited 
politeness and suavity of manner, he retailed dress and dry goods suitable 
to the wants of the ladies of Clinton and surrounding towns, and in accord- 
ance with the then prevailing styles. 

The last train from Boston, via Groton Junction, brought to town 
some twenty evening papers, which Mr. Kendall carefully numbered for 
his subscribers and arranged on his north counter ; the assortment was 
mostly limited to the " Journal ;" it is said that Mr. Kendall was a sharp 
Yankee trader as well as a "boss" politician, and there is little doubt 
that his tact was disployed to excellent advantage in both lines of enter- 
prise. It is stated that just previous to the March election or the annual 
town meeting the local politicians would sometimes run in, and in the rear 
part of his store discuss the situation and provide measures for saving the 
country ; here the ancient custom of pre-arranging for the caucus and 
election was even then in vogue, and we assume that Mr. Kendall was 
never a mute spectator. 

In his store Mr. Kendall had two efficient clerks — his brother-in-law, 
James W. Caldwell of Barre — and "Joe" Lathrop, an attractive left-hand 
supporter, a black-eyed favorite, a miscellaneous beau who, on leaving 
town, went to Detroit, where for many years he has been a prosperous 
dentist. 

The north wing of the block was devoted to the uses of the post- 
oflSce ; Horatio N. Bigelow was the first postmaster of the village, having 
been appointed six or seven years previous to the date of which we write 
by President Fillmore ; but the active man in the office was John F. Cald- 
well, a brother of James, a sandy-haired youth whose easy manners well 
adapted him to the duties of this position — for the community will not 
tolerate a dyspeptic bear inside this official rail ; if John was temporarily 
absent from his place, in the adjoining store, a pull of the knob beside the 
delivery door would speedily recall him for service. 

There were then only eight mails, one each way from and to Boston 
and Worcester, morning and evening. It was while waiting for the morn- 
ing mails — for the counting room of the Carpet company — that the 
writer had his first impressions of prominent citizens — Dr. C. M. Bowers, 
Dr. Preston Chamberlain and David Chace, etc., all frequently seen 
among the " morning waiters " in the post-office vestibule. 

On the second floor of the block the Bigelow Mechanics' institute 



High Street in 1853 51 

occupied three rooms. This society was so named in honor of Erastus B. 
Bigelow, who had donated the organization an air pump and $200 in cash. 
The main objects of the institute were the furnishing of lectures, library 
and reading room ; the lectures were provided ; a small library was estab- 
lished, Charles G. Stevens, librarian, which was at length moved to A. P. 
Burdett's building, and on the year of which we are writing to the new 
" Library Building " on Union street ; and a reading room was also opened 
in one of the three rooms, which was furnished with the daily papers of 
that era, as the Boston Atlas, Post, Courier, and Commonwealth, also the 
New York Tribune. 

On the same floor Attorney Charles G. Stevens had his oflQce, and 
with him was a young man, Isaac Baldwin, whose two leading character- 
istics, as we remember him, were black eyes and a love of music ; Mr. 
Baldwin soon after went west, to Clinton, Iowa, of which city he became 
the mayor and an elder in lowan society. Dr, Home, a dentist, also had 
an office on this floor ; he drew teeth with great acceptance, but from the 
lack of business he also drew an inference that he had better look else- 
where for a livelihood, and to the regret of many he left town and went to 
Watertown, where he died ; there was a tenement in the building which 
was leased by a native wag of lofty stature, Hiram Makepeace, whose 
Mark Twainish remarks are not forgotten. 

This famous block was moved from its site a few years ago to make 
room for the present Bank Block, being trundled down Church street hill 
to its present location, still looking very much as it did in its palmy days, 
save that it lacks its old and cheerful and shady surroundings. 

An open corner lot brings us to Church street. 



Again we make a start from Union street, now going north on the 
west side of High street. 

The corner block was built by A. P. Bm'dett several years previous to 
the time of our review ; he had been in business with his brother, Jerome 
S. Burdett, lower down the street, in a large tenement block known as 
" Concert Hall" building — a block still standing on the old site. Desir- 
ing a better and more roomy location, he had gone to the upper corner of 
the street, building on both High and Union streets. 

On the Union street side we find the happy grocer, George E. Har- 
rington, in the store afterwards and for many years occupied by James F. 
Maynard. Mr. Harrington was a fore-ordained Methodist in his theolog- 
ical views and a leader of his church choir, where for local and very inter- 
esting social reasons he had a stormy administration ; in politics he was 
a dyed-in-the-wool democrat of the ante-bellum variety : in this year 
(1853), with a forlorn hope of success, he accepted the democratic nomi- 
nation as a candidate for the legislature, netting nothing more substantial 
out of the venture than a suit of clothes, which he claimed were the best 
he ever owned, purchased by him in anticipation of an election. The last 
we ever heard of him he was in a western state, having so far retograded 



52 High Street in 1853 

in his business as to be running a newspaper. Adjoining Harrington's 
grocery store was the shoe store of Henry T. Goodale, whose cheerful 
enthusiastic peculiarities may be remembered by some. 

An entrance into the first door on high street, in same block, takes 
us into the dry goods store of Mr. Burdett's successor, Orlando A. Smith, 
a native of Wilton, N. H. — familiarly known as "0. A." As a bachelor 
village merchant, Mr. vSmith did full justice to his calling ; never have we 
known a more genial dealer or one who had more thoroughly learned that 
profitable mercantile trick of taking an absorbing interest in the health or 
personal welfare of his customer and all his or her immediate and remote 
relations ; in variety of assortment his store resembled an over-crowded 
museum ; from pianos and silks to yarns and buttons nothing was omitted ; 
Mr. Smith was a natural musician and for a time was the leader and 
organist — playing a small melodeon — of the Baptist choir ; but as a seller 
of dry goods he ably illustrated the secular version of the doctrine known 
as '•'the perseverance of the saints." 

Mr. Smith's confidential clerk was Horace W. Robinson, a polite 
Shylock, with a squeaking voice, pitched in the third story of his bronchial 
tubes, but a genial, happy soul ; it was the outside understanding that 
between Horace and "O. A." a customer stood a very small chance of 
getting out of the store without making a purchase. Another clerk was 
B. Frank Warner, whose family lived in a cottage off Water street, after- 
wards sold to Attorney J. T. Dame and since occupied by him aud family. 
W. Atwood McCurdy also worked here, for many years since living in 
Maine. 

In the adjoining smaller store Miss Ellen Skillinger, of Poland, Me., 
had a millinery room ; the lady afterwards became Mrs. Charles W. Wor- 
cester. 

Over Mr. Smith's store was the office of a young dentist, Dr. .Jeremiah 
Fiske, who, four years before had come from his native town of Temple, 
N. H., to pull and to fill Clintonville teeth; associated with him was a 
student, Amos A. Pevey, afterwards in business here, now deceased ; many 
a trembling speciman of aching humanity, occupying a patient's chair in 
this office, as we can testify, has taken in the entire Carpet mill business 
in painful glances, while the doctor deftly applied his double twisting 
forceps as he plunged to the root of the matter. 

On the third and upper floor was the historic "Burditt Hall"; here, 
in caucuses, in many a political campaign, candidates were made and un- 
made, with and without program ; the political chieftains of those times 
were no "back numbers" but comprised a worthy list : Andrew L. Fuller, 
Dea. J. B. Parker, Joseph C. Smith, Henry Eddy, Philip L. Morgan, 
Ben. R. Cotton, Eneas Morgan, Artemas E. Bigelow, Josiah H. Vose, 
Nelson Whitcomb, G. M. Palmer, E. K. Gibbs, A. S. Carleton, etc., etc. 
Here also, lectures were given of all sorts and kinds, to all varieties of 
audiences — theological, philosophical, political, anthropological, etc. The 
hall would hold a fair audience although the exit, in case of fire, was not 
exactly what would be allowed by the present inspector of public buildings 
in Massachusetts. 



High Street in 1853 53 

The next block was the drug store of Alfred A. Burditt — the only 
apothecary in the town, having the previous year moved in from the 
adjoining millinery rooms. In this store for some forty years, alone 
or with his two sons, Henry and Oscar, Mr. Burditt carried on a successful 
business, dispensing pills, powders, plasters, herbs, and advice in his 
laudable efforts to prop up feeble and tottering humanity ; his clerk was 
William White, afterwards a druggist in Chicago, where he died. Mr. 
Burditt resided in the tenement over his store until he bought the Kellogg 
house, his present residence. 

The next in order was the shoe store of Dexter S. K. Winter, a son 
of Dea. Waldo Winter, who succeeded him in business ; the former now 
lives in Nebraska, in feeble health. For a number of years Hawes & 
Merriam had previously run this store, the only shoe store in the village 
and then substantially on the "corner;" Mr. Hawes subsequently moved 
to Leominster, where he still lives ; the store, enlarged, is now occupied 
by Richard Bourne, a brother-in-law of the occupant of 1853. 

We now come to a two-story wooden building, the first erected on the 
^oest side of High street, and occupied by Gilbert Greene, a native of 
Stonehara, the only ""jeweller and watch-maker" in the town ; Mr. Greene 
well understood his ti-ade, coming to this town from Lancaster ; he poses- 
sed the compound ability of cleaning a watch in good shape and telling a 
good story at the same time — the story not injuring the quality of the 
work and the work failing to damage the edge of the storj' ; it was a rare 
treat to hear him tell of "old times", as we have often heard him in this 
old shop, of the years when he was associated with Erastus and Horatio 
Bigelow as fiddlers and singers in the Lancaster church choir, when P'ather 
Packard officiated in the pulpit. Mr. Greene occupied the north window 
of his shop while the other was taken by the genial Walter W. Peirce, a 
West Boylston boy, a tenor singer of local renown, who died early and 
much lamented by many young friends. The proprietor has also passed 
away but his social ti'aits and many virtues are well remembered by sur- 
viving friends. 

Mr. Greene lived on the corner, in house now owned by Mrs. S. W. 
Tyler. The tenement portion of the shop-buiLliug was occupied by Mrs. 
Whitcomb and daughter, Hattie ; the main part was taken down a few 
years ago to make room for a brick block, but the ell still remains in the 
rear lot. 

The next business block was that of George P. Smith, a native of 
Wilton, N. H., who early came to Clintonville from Nashua; in distinc- 
tion from his brother, "O. A.", already mentioned, he was familiarly called 
"G. P." He resided in rooms over the store until he built the house on 
Chestnut street, now occupied by the family of Gilbert Greene. In the 
early years of the history of this village Mr. Smith kept a full-fledged 
country variety store, but at the date of which we write (forty-two years 
since) he had dispensed with the grocery department, thenceforth retailing 
only dry goods, ready-made clothing, paper-hangings, carpets and crock- 
ery. Mr. Smith thoroughly comprehended his business and enjoyed a 



54 High Street in 1853 

large degree of prosperity in the years of "good times", when mill wages 
were higher than now, money was easy, and the operatives spent their 
cash with little thought of the morrow. He eventually sold out to his 
junior partner, Burton S. Walker, and removed to Bricksburg, N. J., 
where he died a few years ago. He was a valuable citizen much inter- 
ested in the welfare of the town. The old store is now a tenement bouse, 
in the rear — Doggett's brick block occupying the street site. 

Mr. Smith's chief clerk and adviser was his brother-in-law, Henry C. 
Greeley, a rosy-cheek and dark-eyed young man who came down to Mass- 
achusetts from Hudson, N. H., to learn the dry goods business; after a 
few years of partnership he left and opened a successful business for 
himself in the Kendall block. Another clerk was the quiet and polite 
William H. Putnam, who for many subsequent years had clerked in lead- 
ing Boston houses. A third was John Ring, of Liberty, Maine, a young 
man of superior abilities, of a poetic turn of mind, and the author of a 
*'Book of Rhymes" ; unfortunately his star went out prematurely ; he went 
into business in Worcester, and there died. 

The adjoining millinery rooms were then occupied by Mrs. Charles D. 
Davis ; her son, James Powers, now an Episcopal clergjonan in the West, 
visited Clinton only last season ; her successor was Miss A. S. Merriam ; 
both ladies have deceased. 

The upstairs office was occupied by Attorney John T. Dame, a native 
of Orford, N. H., who had removed from Lancaster to this town where he 
remained in the practice of law until his decease last July. Afterwards 
Dr. C. A. Brooks commenced his medical practice in this room, then 
occupied by Attorney D. H. Bemis — C. C. Stone, Esq., holding court 
in the rear room. 

We have now reached the Clinton House block, in which were four 
stores : 1 — Occupied in 1853 by E. Ballard, bookstore and Clinton Courant 
office, removing thither from Field's store block; 2 — Lorenzo D.Lyon, 
shoe-dealer, who enjoyed the happy faculty of selling shoes, cobbling and 
talking politics with equal facility and without detriment to business or 
the welfare of the country ; a quiet, good citizen who died in Attleboro, 
a few years ago; 3 — Daniel Haverty, ready-made clothing; 4 — Coburn, 
the colored bai'ber. 

Clinton Hall, above, was the scene of a great variety of entertain- 
ments. Our first visit to this hall was on the occasion of a juvenile 
concert, given by Osgood Collester's class, in the summer of '53. Within 
its walls, concerts and lectures were given for many a year and the room 
was made memorable by the never-to-be-forgotten "war meetings" during 
the civil struggle for the integrity of our nation. The actors of those 
days have largely passed away, but an allusion to these gatherings will 
recall, in some minds, the solemnity of the times. For a while, town 
meetings were held here, but at the date of which we write, they were 
convened in the vestry of the Congregational church. 

The CUnton House, on the corner, was then in charge of Horace 
Faulkner, with whom was associated his son-in-law, Jerome S. Burditt, 



High Street in 1853 55 

by whom the house gained a high reputation. Mr. Faulkner had moved 
in, previously to this time, from the old Tavern House on Main street, 
afterwards the Counterpane mill boarding house ; the hotel had been built 
a few years before (1847) by Contractor Oliver Stone, aided by several 
young carpenters, as Christopher C. Stone, Elisha Brimhall of Oakham, 
A. M. Kelly of Brookfield, Henry Pierce of West Boylston, etc. The 
Clinton hall addition was erected, in 1851, by Contractor Jonas E. Howe, 
for Mr. Faulkner. 

Having completed the review of the section of High street, between 
Union and Church, we now resume our walk down High street, on the east 
side, commencing at Church. 

The first estate is that of Gilbert Greene, an attractive feature of 
which was the spacious garden in the corner lot ; for many years this was 
a "home" for the family, and until Mr. Greene, buying G. P. Smith's 
estate on Chestnut street, sold this place to Samuel W. Tyler, who, retain- 
ing the house for his residence, covered the corner lot with "Tyler's 
block;" Mr. Tyler occupied until his decease, and his family since, the 
house remaining today near its original site and without essential change. 

The adjoining lot was that of Alfred Knight, a highly esteemed citi- 
zen, a long time town treasurer, who with his wife and "Fred" lived here 
many years — now all gone. The property coming into the possession of 
William N. Peirce, he moved the house back upon the hill, erecting the 
"Peirce block" on the front lot. The old house remains, with slight 
changes. 

Next, is the new Methodist Episcopal church edifice, the pride of the 
society. It had been completed the previous year under the pastorate of 
Kev. T. Willard Lewis, a brother of the late Rev. Joseph W. Lewis, also 
of Mrs. J. H. Rowell; Rev. Lewis, after service in connection with the 
army in the civil war, settled in Charleston, S. C, where he died. Among 
the prominent members of the chui'ch in those early days, we remember 
James F. Maynard, George H. Foster, George E. Harrington, J. Willard 
Frost, Linus Fitts, "Father" Ephraim Hunt, Charles Ryder, etc. Hard 
by was the "Peirce block", now the "American house", then a tenement 
house ; in the basement there was a grocery store kept by B. F. & J. F. 
Howell — the son, John F., now residing in Worcester and serving as City 
Auditor. 

Then the "Howell House", looking just as it does today, occupied 
by Barnabas F. Howell and wife, a worthy and well-remembered couple. 

There were no more houses till we reached that owned by Simeon 
Bowman, built by N. A. Boynton, in 1847, and now owned by his son, 
Charles Bowman. A little way below was the Sidney Howard cottage, 
built by Levi Greene, since remodeled, moved back, and now owned by 
Mrs. Marilla Sawyer, of Worcester. 

An old house now stands on the corner of High and AVater, which at 
that time was located on Main street and occupied by Eben W. Howe ; 
it was subsequently owned by A. C. Dakin, and moved across the river to 
its present site on High street, when the building of the Agricultural 
Branch railroad ruined its first site — now occupied by Mrs. John Wright. 



56 High Street in 1853 

Returning now to Church street we will take a hasty run down on the 
ivest side of the street ; In the corner we find an open lot ; a large elni 
now stands on this corner, which, when a sapling, one dark night, forty 
years ago, we entangled between the wheel and shaft of our carriage. 

Prominent on the western side of this street were two large, white 
houses owned by "Uncle" John Burditt; the first was subsequently bought 
by T. D. Dexter and moved to East street where he still occupies it; the 
second had on its second floor a "Concert Hall" where religious services 
were held, also lectures, one, as we remember, on "Mnemonics", or the 
science of memory illustrated by the writer, who officiated as a "wonderful 
dummy" before the audience, remembering and reciting figures by the 
hundreds, by a key which he promised never to reveal. 

The next building was the cottage house of William Goodale, a native 
of Marlboro, a subsequent resident of Bolton, and many years employed 
in the "Quilt Mill"; he has deceased, but his widow and two daughters 
still reside in town ; Otis Fletcher, of Lancaster, to whom he sold, and 
who occupied many years, has also died ; the present owners are P. A. & 
P. F. Cannon. 

Crossing a narrow way which led down into "Pond Court", where 
the brothers, Abraham and Isaac Gibson lived, we come to the double 
house occupied by Dea. William H. Gibson who earned his living in the 
little cobbler's shop, and his brother-in-law, Asa Laythe. Mr. Gibson 
died from the effects of injuries received at the terrible accident at the 
"Four Ponds" railroad crossing, when his wife and daughter, Charlotte 
Buss, were killed in 1866 ; Mr. Laythe and wife are also gone one son 
residing in Sterling, and another in business in this town. 

Near by was the furniture store of Benjamin Ring ; Mr. Ring had 
been a Baptist minister in Maine and moved to Massachusetts, going into 
business which he carried on in a small way, his family living in the ell of 
the building ; all have died but one daughter ; the block is now occupied 
by Grocer Dartt. 

Leaving the long "Kendall tenement block" at the left, down near 
Counterpane pond, we pass down the street finding no more houses, where 
is now a succession of business blocks, till we reach the corner of AVater 
street, where the "Hoadley house" then stood, and stands today, now 
one of the oldest houses in town. It was occupied forty-two years ago 
by Mrs. Pease, a sister of Civil Engineer John C. Hoadley; the family 
subsequently moved to Worcester, where the mother and one son died. 
The daughter, Mary, was for many years a successful teacher in Worces- 
ter schools. 

This brings us to the end of "High street, meeting the yard of Cam- 
den Maynard's place, whose house stood nearly opposite, and whose farm 
occupied the plain now crossed by "North High" street, and several 
parallel streets, and affording homes to a large population ; "High" street, 
which at that time extended only from Union to Water street, now 
stretches from Union to the Lancaster line. 



FIRST SEVEN YEARS IN CLINTON 



JOSHUA THISSELL — June 10, 1896 



In the spring of 1847 a young man left his home in the city of Lowell 
for the village of Clintonville, coming all the way in a stage coach, a 
tedious ride, and taking the larger part of a day. The route from Lowell 
to Lancaster was owned and operated by Mr. Maynard, a stable-keeper of 
the city of Lowell ; the route from Lancaster to Worcester was owned and 
operated by Mr. Stiles ; sometimes they went through the towns of Har- 
vard and Littleton, and at others through Shirley Village, Groton, etc. 

Arriving in town, I was first introduced to H. N. Bigelow, who at 
that time was acting agent of the Lancaster Mills, Coachlace and Counter- 
pane mills, the three principal manufacturing concerns in the place. 

The next person was John C. Hoadley, a civil engineer. I had come 
to secure a situation, and was engaged as an assistant for him during the 
summer and fall seasons. I wish to say a few words in regard to him ; 
those of you present who were acquainted with him will bear me out in the 
truthfulness of my statements ; he came from the state of New York in 
1845, and remained in Clinton as their engineer until late in the fall of 
1848 ; he was an accomplished gentleman, a fine scholar, an excellent 
draftsman, a good engineer ; polite, affable and agreeable, he had many 
friends ; I never saw him show the least temper under the most provoking 
circumstances. 

Previous to Mr. Hoadley's coming to Clinton, the engineering had 
been done by Uriah Boyden, a noted hydraulic engineer of Boston, who 
afterwards became famous for his improvements in turbine water wheels ; 
he was an eccentric individual and many stories are related of his oddity 
and eccentricity. 

The land surveying was mostly done in Clinton by James G. Carter 
of Lancaster. The Stony Brook and the Worcester & Nashua Railroads 
were at that time in process of building ; at the opening of the Stony 
Brook, and the Worcester & Nashua Railroad from Ayer Junction to Clin- 
ton, in the summer of 1848, I came with the party of directors and en- 
gineers and took dinner at the Clinton House, then but just opened and 
kept by Faulkner & Burditt. I was then engaged by H. N. Bigelow as 
the successor to Mr. Hoadley. I had not contemplated any such thing, 
when coming, as I had a very good situation as a railroad engineer under 
Geo. C, Stark. 



58 First Seven Years in Clinton 

My first few months' experience in Clintonville, of lonesomeness and 
homesickness, was not very conducive to my making a home here, but 
after nearly forty-eight years of trial, I have come to the conclusion that 
it is a pretty good place after all, and hard to beat if one requires a good, 
quiet, orderly, pleasant and beautiful place for home-life ; every year adds 
to its attractions. 

Clintonville, in 1847, was a very busy place. There was then in 
process of erection, first the Clinton House ; the only hotel pi*evious to 
this was the third building on Main street, north of the residence of Mrs. 
J. B. Parker, now owned by E. S. Fuller; the quarters were small and it 
was almost crowded to suffocation by boarders. I became homesick, the 
first and only time in my life, and would have taken French leave if cir- 
cumstances had not prevented — together with a feeling that it would not 
be treating Mr. Hoadley in a gentlemanly manner. I stated my case to 
him and he immediately took me to his own home ; in such pleasant 
home surroundings I soon got over those feelings of loneliness and 
homesickness. 

H. N. Bigelow was also then building his fine residence off Chestnut 
street, now owned by Rev. R. J. Patterson. Mr. Bigelow at that time 
was living on High street, in the house now owned by Mrs. S. W. Tyler. 

A large amount of work was also being done by Wm. T. Merrifield, 
under contract with the Lancaster Mills. I recollect staking out the 
cellars for nearly all the wooden dwelling houses on Green street, the dye 
house and also a large addition to the mill. 

The weaving room was already built and the looms in full operation ; 
this room on account of its size was frequently mentioned, and the cucum- 
ber windows on the roof were an object of much curiosity. The power 
that drove the mill at that time consisted of three very lai'ge breast wheels 
built by Mr. Dummer of Lowell. I shall not attempt to give a sketch of 
the several additions and the various improvements made by the gentle- 
manly managers of this large manufacturing concern. This alone would 
furnish a topic for a whole evening's entertainment, and I hope it may be 
done by some one ere long. 

The counting-room, machine shop, old yellow mill, and the one-story 
brick weaving shed, small wood dye-house, together with a few small 
wooden buildings, was all that constituted the Clinton, or Coachlace com- 
pany, as it was more frequently called. The counting room is now a 
dwelling house on Clark street. The old yellow mill remains still in the 
yard of the Bigelow Carpet Co.'s worsted mill ; it was moved westerly, the 
bell and bell tower removed, and the steep gable roof taken off and a flat 
one substituted. The bell went down-stream, I think, with Fuller's mill 
in the great washout of 1876. 

The brick weaving shed retains nearly its former proportions. This 
building at that time contained a large number of looms for weaving 
coachlace, E. B. Bigelow's first invention ; this was a small, neat and 
wonderful hfe-like machine. Coachlace having gone out of style, the 
looms soon afterwards were sold — I think to a Philadelphia company. 



First Seven Years in Clinton 59 

The machine shop, now No. 1 Worsted Mill, ran southerly and nearly 
parallel with Main street ; it retains nearly its former proportions. It was 
then imder the management of Dea. J. B. Parker, employing a number of 
hands who were kept quite busy with Mr. Bigelow's several inventions. 
The dam had been constructed, and also a canal with a gatehouse at each 
end ; there was an open canal which carried water to a wheel which di'ove 
the shop ; it then passed along to a large breast wheel in the basement of 
the old yellow mill ; this was soon done away by the putting in of a new 
iron wheel somewhat in the form of a letter S with an aperture at each 
end. This was placed in a pit in the basement of the cloth room of the 
mill ; water was conveyed to the same by means of a large iron pipe from 
the New Canal, as it was then called. Below the dam there was a small 
pond dam, foundation of a mill — penstock - — and some portions of wheels 
and pulleys. The dam and pond remained as late as the year 1857, and 
is shown on a map of Clinton which I made at that time. Who owned the 
mill and what was done there 1 have never been able to learn definitely. 

Just above this point there was a large pile of iron slags, aud I was 
told that there was once some iron mining done about and near there ; that 
there is iron in the bowels of the earth in this vicinity no one can reason- 
ably doubt from the nature of the water at this point, and also below the 
dam at Mossy Pond. 

C. W. Blanchard became agent of the Clinton Co. in 1848 or '49, and 
the manufacture of woolen goods was commenced, but for some reason or 
other it did not prove profitable and in course of time the property passed, 
by purchase, into the hands of the Bigelow Carpet Co. 

The Counterpane pond in 1847 was as perfect a little gem of a pond as 
one would wish to see ; its waters were clean and pure, fish lived and 
sported therein. The impurities of the mills and the filth of the streets 
were turned gradually therein until in time the whole pond became so 
filthy and impure that we were glad when the waters were drawn off, the 
basin filled with earth and the whole thing blotted out of sight. 

"Counterpane Mill," as it is generally known, in its exterior looks 
and remains as it was fifty years ago ; in its management it has passed 
through as many vicissitudes and changes as a widow with seven hus- 
bands. We believe that had it been properly and skillfully managed, at 
this time it would have become one of the largest manufacturing concerns 
in the town. 

Lancaster Quilt Company was at one time noted for the excellent 
quality and the honest manufacture of their goods, but the desire of the 
owners to make a little more than a fair profit, led not only to a reduction 
in weight, but the employment of the poorest material. Dishonesty enough 
to sink any craft. We are pleased to note the hum of industry within its 
walls again and wish for its owners continued prosperity and success. 
Some of our most prosperous men and matrons can remember when they 
earned an honest penny by working for the Lancaster Quilt Company. 

Mechanic street at that time (1847) led from a point on Union street, 
at its intersection with School street, through what is now the front por- 



60 First Seven Years in Clinton 

tion of the Bigelow Carpet Co.'s weaving mill, and terminating at the 
southerly end. On Chestnut street, near a large boarding house, stood a 
brick building, the easterly portion of which was two stories in height, 
operated by Messrs. Jonas P2. Howe and Samuel Belyea as a planing mill 
and shop for the manufacture of boxes. The westerly half, which was 
one story in height, was occupied by Gilman M. Palmer as a foundry. 
Standing near was Mark Lund's blacksmith shop; a little westerly on 
Union street, was the " plastered house," the only building in that vicinity 
which has not been changed or demolished. Jotham D. Otterson owned 
and lived in a cottage house, now the Putnam house ; a little beyond, on 
Chestnut street, was the " Big Boarding House," as it was called, built 
and intended for married people without families, and so used for a while. 

The Bigelow Carpet Co. came into possession of the brick building 
before-named in the year 1848, and immediately began operations on a 
very small scale at first ; I recollect distinctly watching the motions of 
the first loom set up. A small wooden building in the rear of the brick 
buildings contained the two or three dye-tubs. No one at that time, how- 
ever bold, would have dared to prophesy that "Slab Meadow" would be 
covered with such a number of large, magnificent brick buildings, or that 
from so small a beginning would have arisen one of our largest manufac- 
turing concerns. At one time it was contemplated removing the plant to 
Holyoke, and laud and power were secured for that purpose. We are 
indebted to H. N. Bigelow, through whose persistent efforts it was kept 
in town. 

There were several small manufacturing interests in town ; Sidney 
Harris had a saw and grist mill on the westerly side of the river, together 
with a comb factory on the easterly side, in which was done a considerable 
amount of business ; McCollom & Lowe owned and operated several comb 
shops in McCollom ville. The great washout in '76 not only carried off all 
the buildings, but destroyed every vestige of the four little ponds, leaving 
the ledge bare and an interesting spot where lovers of geology could inves- 
tigate and speculate. 

There was also a woolen factory, owned and operated by Mr. Fuller, 
on the site of the Messrs. Rodgers' mill ; also a fork factory, owned and 
carried on by Luther Gaylord on the spot of W. A. Fuller's present plan- 
ing mill ; the foregoing constituted nearly or quite all the manufacturing 
concerns in the place. 

Perhaps no part of the town has undergone a greater change than the 
territory in the vicinity of the railroad station ; in 1848 there was a very 
small passenger station, a freight- house, wood-house, engine-house and 
turn-table. The square on the north side of Chapel street, now owned by 
W. E. Fyfe, was covered by a hill twelve or fifteen feet above the level 
of the streets on either side ; near the center, on the front, stood the 
"Chapel," so called, first used by the Congregationalists, afterwards by 
the Baptist society — as a place of worship. Then again the town used 
and occupied it for the High school ; afterwards it was purchased by Chas. 
W. Worcester, moved to the opposite side of Chapel street, raised one 



First Seven Years in Clinton 61 

story, and converted into two tenements. When the Old Colony railroad 
was built it was again sold and moved to Sterling street, where it now 
remains. The hill was covered with a growth of large trees, making a 
cool and shady place in the summer season. 

At the corner of Main and AYater streets, near where stands the 
wheelwi-ight shop now occupied by Henry F. Keyes, was a round knoll or 
hill elevated some twenty or thirty feet above its surroundings ; it was 
very uniform in shape and was known and designated as "Grace Hill." 
It was reached by a flight of steps on the northerly side, and on its top 
was a flag-staff which floated the stars and stripes on national holidays and 
other important occasions ; this hill was partially covered with trees and 
in hot weather furnished a cool retreat for the residents in that vicinity. 
When the Worcester & Nashua railroad was built the deep cut left a very 
large hill between there and Main street, extending even into the street, 
the larger portion of which would probably have remained to this day had 
not the Old Colony come along with its steam shovel and gravel train to 
help out on the fill at the High Bridge. 

For fear of wearying you I will bring this sketch to an abrupt close, 
merely saying that in 1848 there were but two houses on Walnut street — 
between Church and Water streets — and none on Chestnut sti'eet — be- 
tween Union and Water streets ; as late as 1857 there was not a street or 
house easterly of Chestnut street, excepting those bordering on Water 
street. Northerly of Water street no streets had been laid out, and there 
was not a house on the " Plain," now so thickly settled. Pleasant, Frank- 
lin, Beacon and Summit streets on Burditt Hill had been laid out, but not 
over a dozen houses had been built where now it is so thickly dotted with 
pleasant dwellings. 

We have said but little about the noble men now sleeping in yonder 
cemetery, who in former days with wonderful sagacity labored and planned 
to make Clinton what it now is : one of the cleanest and most beautiful 
towns in the state. When I look on our beautiful parks or walk our finely 
shaded streets in some hot and sultry day, I involuntarily exclaim, "These 
men did not live for self," and am led not only to cherish their memories, 
but to bless their very existence. 

Now, friends, I do not believe that Clinton has arrived at the very 
pinnacle of its prosperity ; I do not believe that we are to be drowned out 
or burned up just yet. The big dam with the mighty reservoir back of it 
may make the timid ones a little " scarey " at first, but skillful and scien- 
tific engineering will attend to the first and our brave firemen will look out 
for the last. 

I believe that Clinton has a bright future in store, and when the next 
half-century has rolled away, and parts of the surrounding towns have 
been annexed, there will be not only a Greater Boston, but a " Greater 
CUnton." 



CLINTONVILLE IN 1846 



Dr. GEORGE M. MORSE — June 10, 1895 



W. E. Parkhurst, in his reminiscences of Clinton, gave an account of 
Clinton as he found it when he came to town. I came to town several 
years earlier, and 1 propose tonight, in a very rambling way, to give my 
recollections of Clinton, or rather " Clinton ville " as it was then called, 
as it appeared in 1846. 

I came to town on one of the first days of March, 1846. I came in 
a sleigh, in the midst of a snow storm, in the evening of a cold, dreary 
March day, inquiring my way over Ballard Hill of the people living on the 
route, many of whom never heard of Clintonville, but knew that a large 
cotton factory was being built in the southerly part of Lancaster. 

I put up at the hotel, now a boarding house, kept by Mrs. Reynolds, 
and the first person I met was Horace Faulkner, whom I had known in 
Drewsville, N. H. 

The next person I saw was "Old Galley," as he sat by the store 
window mending his mittens. Richard Galley was always called "Old 
Galley," and he had been known by that cognomen years before in Bos- 
ton, where he had followed his trade as a sawyer of wood, which vocation 
he followed, as many here present will remember, till age and infirmity 
compelled him to seek the poor-house for shelter. He usually worked 
under a little tent which he pitched over his wood-pile, to keep off the sun 
and the wind and the rain. 

Coming from Lancaster, the first house was an old yellow farm-house 
occupied by George W. Howard, Jr., on the site where E. A. Currier built 
the house he now lives in. An old yellow stable stood opposite, about 
where Allen street commences. 

The next house, that of Laban Bennett, now occupied by his son. 
It was at that time a one-story house, another story having been added 
since. Where Mr. Rodgers' mill now stands were some old factory build- 
ings, I think owned by Ephraim Fuller or George Howard, and used by 
Andrew L. Fuller in the manufacture of satinets. South of Laban Ben- 
nett's there were two houses, still standing, then occupied by Henry, 
Anson and John Lowe ; there were also two small cottages south of these, 
painted red, in one of which the poetess, Hannah F. Gould, is said to 



Clintonville in 1846 63 

have been bom ; opposite these houses was the house of Henry Lewis ; 
next south was the house of Jonas B. White. This house was formerly a 
country store and was the place where Dr. Burdett bought his first and 
ever memorable jack-knife. Enoch K. Gibbs lived where he now lives. 
This section of the town was called by the euphonious name of ' ' Scrabble 
Hollow ;" afterwards McCollomville ; and the inhabitants were principally 
comb-makers, working for Haskell McCollom, he occupying several small 
shops, which were carried off by the great " wash-out" of 1876. 

After crossing the brook the next house was that of Ezra Sawyer, 
" Squire Sawyer," as he was always called ; he was a mason and did most 
of the mason-work in the building of Lancaster Mills and the enlargement 
of the Counterpane mill. The next house was that of Davis Brigham, and 
the next was the hotel before mentioned. William T. Merrifield lived in 
the brick house, now Mrs. Deacon Parker's. Opposite the old tavern 
were two small cottages occupied by some Irish families, and to the south 
of these was the Poignand house, then occupied by Caleb and Thomas 
Sawyer. 

On Sterling street was the house of Joseph Rice, now Tarrant F. 
Sibley's ; where the poor-farm now stands was a little house owned by a 
man named Thompson, who afterward sold his place to the town for a 
poor- farm. On the Rigby road lived Eben Pratt; these were the only 
houses west of Main street. 

On the corner of Main and Sterling streets stood the Chapel, then used 
as a house of worship by the Congregational church, Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, 
pastor, Caleb Sawyer, chorister. The musical instruments were a bass 
viol and two violins ; H. N. Bigelow and Ebenezer W. Howe played the 
violins, and John Lowe the bass viol. Opposite the Chapel was " Liberty 
Hill," then covered by a grove of yellow pines ; the hill now cut down and 
carted off, the land being owned by the Swifts. 

The next house south of Liberty Hill was owned by Oliver Green, 
who sold it to Ebenezer W. Howe, and he to A. C. Dakin. This house was 
moved to the corner of High and Water streets. The next house was that 
of Sampson Worcester, then occupied by John B. Pratt, and after him I 
lived there two years, till I built my present home on the corner of Walnut 
and Church streets. Opposite was a small house occupied by Scott Free- 
man ; this house was moved by Joseph E. Miner to its present location 
and is now occupied by him. Scott Freeman was my first patient ; he had 
pleuro-pneumonia. 

The next buildings going south were two small school-houses, one of 
wood and the other of brick, standing about where Parsons' blacksmith 
shop now stands ; south of these were several boarding and tenement 
houses owned by the Clinton company who were manufacturing coachlace 
in the old yellow mill now moved back and used as a storehouse by the 
Carpet company. 

Near this factory was a large machine shop owned by the Clinton Co., 
now a spinning mill of the Carpet Co., of which Deacon Jos. B. Parker 
was superintendent and where all the machinery for the new mills was 



64 ClintonviUe in 1846 

built, employing a large number of skilled machinists. In the attic of this 
machine shop E. B. Bigelow's carpet loom was afterwards perfected, and 
here William Eaton, Stillman Houghton and John J. Boynton worked for 
years under lock and key, until this loom was made to do good work, no 
one being allowed to enter its sacred precincts. 

South of Union street were several tenement houses belonging to the 
CJinton company. Beyond these was a large two-story house owned by 
Deacon Parker, since burned. Beyond this was the house of Nathaniel 
Rice, a carpenter, of whom it was said that he could build a first-class 
house with only two tools, a broadaxe and an auger. 

The next was Abel Rice, a one-armed man, a noted mover of build- 
ings ; then the double house of Levi Houghton and Nathan Burditt ; the 
last house on that side of the street was that of Samuel Dorrison. 

South of the Dorrison house was the James Stone house ; opposite, 
the houses of Peter and Elias Sawyer. These, as I remember, were the 
only houses on Main street between the Lancaster line and Boylston, 
where there are now over four hundred houses. The Deacon John Burditt 
house stood a little off Main street, near Pleasant street. 

On Water street was the Counterpane mill, with two small boarding 
houses ; going east was the house of Camden Maynard, now owned by 
Luis Burk ; next a small house moved to Burditt Hill by Lawrence 
Murphy, and a paint shop about where Solon W. Johnson now lives. The 
Hoadley house was on the corner of Main and Water streets, opposite the 
Maynard house. Farther east were two houses owned by the Widow 
Harris, then the brick house owned by Alanson Chace ; Childs, Wellington 
& Harris did most of the stone-work for the mills, having a ledge on Bur- 
ditt Hill beyond the reservoir. 

The house now owned by John Sanderson was then the home of 
Edmund Harris, and on the brow of the hill was the house of Levi Harris. 
This hill was the original Harris Hill, extending from Water to Mechanic 
streets, and properly should be called so now, it being the hill where the 
first Harrises located, thus distinguishing it from Burditt Hill. 

The next building going east was the saw-mill and grist-mill on the 
Nashua river, owned by Sidney Harris, who lived on the top of the next 
hill, where Mrs. Edwin A. Harris now resides. He also had a comb shop 
on the east side of the river, opposite the saw-mill. On the Bolton road 
lived Mrs. Lucy Sawyer, a noted nurse ; on the back road leading from 
Mrs. Harris', lived Eli Sawyer, Gardner Pollard, Phinehas Brooks Howe, 
Alanson Chace and Merrick Sargent. 

There was a red school-house standing in what was afterwards called 
" Wrigley's yard." This red school-house once stood on Wilson Hill, 
above Caleb Carruth's house. The Caleb Carruth house is still standing. 
Many of you will doubtless remember Caleb Carruth and his famous 
" Garden Royal" apples, which apple I believe originated on his farm. 

On the Clamshell pond road lived Joseph Fuller, and near the pond 
was another house. I have forgotten the name of the man who lived 
there. On the farther side of the pond was the house of Ebenezer Wilder. 



Clintonville in 1846 65 

On his farm he had found quite a collection of Indian relics, stone mortars 
and pestles, arrowheads, etc., now unfortunately scattered and lost. Here 
also was the famous " rocking stone " of several tons weight, which some 
vandals have removed from its base, and it rocks no more. I have rocked 
this immense boulder with one hand. The Lorenzo Wood house is now 
standing. 

On Church street there were only two buildings, a restaurant after- 
wards moved to California, and N. A. Boynton's tinshop, now enlarged 
and owned by Charles Bowman. On Mechanic street there was one house, 
owned by Horace Jewett, the house lately owned by Rev. Fr. Pattei-son. 

On High street, now the business part of the town, there were a few 
scattering houses. Commencing at the northerly part of the street was 
the Hoadley house, which now stands back of Parker & Woodruff's block ; 
a house owned by Levi Greene, now occupied by Dr. F. T. Harvey and 
L. B. Walker; house owned by William Goodale, now called the Otis 
Fletcher place, and the Alfred Knight house, now moved back of the 
Peirce block ; the Tyler house, then used as a parsonage, built by H. N. 
Bigelow and occupied by Rev. J. M. R. Eaton. Mr. Bigelow sold this 
house to Ezra Sawyer, he to Gilbert Greene, and he to Samuel W. Tyler. 

The Kendall store came next ; here George H. Kendall carried on a 
regular country store, selling everything that was wanted — dry goods and 
groceries, furniture and crockery. He had for clerks his brother-in-law, 
Jas. W. Caldwell, and Ezra Sawyer, now of Sterling. In the second 
story John B. Atkinson, a famous Odd Fellow, kept a tailor shop, and in 
a little one-story ell Gilbert Greene had a jewelry shop. The Kendall 
house was occupied on the north side by J. B. Atkinson, and the south 
tenement by Mr. Kendall. A little cottage came next, owned by Thomas 
Sawyer — afterward by Miss Mary C. Sawyer — now the laundry; and 
next on the corner of High and Union streets was Lora F. Bancroft's 
house and store. His principal clerk was Wm. T. Harlow, and in a 
chamber over the store Dr. G. W. Burdett had an office. 

Opposite the Alfred Knight house, Deacon John Burditt built a house, 
afterward moved by T. D. Dexter to East street. Deacon John Burditt 
took boarders, and after his death "Aunt John," as she was always called, 
had boarders for many years. It is said of her that nobody ever knew 
when she slept. Here Dr. Symonds had an office. The front part of the 
building was occupied as a dry goods store, kept by A. P. &. J. R. Burditt. 
Horatio S. Burditt, now of ,the firm of Whitten & Burditt of Boston, was 
clerk. He used to walk over to Lancaster every Sunday morning to play 
the organ at the Unitarian church ; over the store was a tailor's shop kept 
by Albert T. Burditt ; on the corner where Hubbard's store now is, was a 
shoe shop, owned by M. D. Hawes and a Mr. Merriam. 

These were the only buildings on High street. This was called High 
street because at that time no one imagined of such a thing as that a street 
would be laid out higher up the hill. In fact, when I built my house on 
Walnut street, people expostulated with me upon going away out of town, 
and by the way I was the first person who bought a lot east of High street. 



66 CUntonville in 1846 

At this time our beautiful common was simply a cranberry swamp ; 
since I lived where I now do I have picked quarts of cranberries where 
the Unitarian church now stands, and there were two Irish shanties, stand- 
ing about where the new toad-and-tadpole pond has just been made — an 
awful blot on our beautiful common. Michael Finuerty and Martin Dooly 
were the occupants of these shanties. 

There was a cart path running from Water street across the easterly 
part of the common, over which the lumber for Lancaster Mills was carted. 
The road to Lancaster Mills went straight down the hill by the boarding 
houses ; the Lancaster Mills dam had been built, a portion of the mill 
erected, a large breast wheel put in, and they were weaving a little white 
cotton cloth ; no gingham had then been made. There was one large 
boarding house, kept by a Mr. Porter, and two tenement houses on Green 
street, and the old house on the other side of the river stood where it now 
stands ; there was the plastered house near the weaving mill of the Bige- 
low Carpet Co., and Mark Lund had a blacksmith shop back of it. 

Where the Catholic church now stands, was a little old house of two 
rooms, occupied by Edmund Greenleaf and family. He lost his foot by 
jumping over a fence upon a scythe, hence was called Stogy Greenleaf. 
I believe I have mentioned every dwelling house that was then standing 
in town. 

Where the weaving mill of the Carpet Company now stands was called 
"Slab Meadow," which bore a rank growth of skunk cabbage, hellebore 
and coarse swamp grass. Why this was called Slab Meadow I could never 
ascertain, unless it was because there was a wide ditch which ran through 
it, and a bridge of slabs was made to cross it. 

That part of the town called the "Plain," comprising West, East, 
Forest, and extension of High streets, was the farm of Camden Maynard, 
partly cultivated, but mostly a pasture, and overrun with blackberry vines. 
We used to go out coasting on the crust in February and Mai'ch, com- 
mencing at the old Harris house and sliding the whole length of the Plain, 
almost to Hamilton street. 

Horace Faulkner kept the hotel and a general boarding house. I 
remember among the boarders Charles W. Worcester and wife, N. A. 
Boynton and wife, Calvin Holman and wife, Jerome S. Burditt, William 
T. Harlow, L. B. Tinkham, Joel Sawtell, and others. 

Where stands our magificent railroad station, wonderful for its age 
and inconveniences, was a dense pine wood, where katydids made the 
night resound with their harsh music ; but we never found out what Katy 
did. There was also a colony of katydids in the elms which once stood 
near the Counterpane gate, which elms have been removed by our wise and 
enterprising road commissioners, as they are removing every large tree they 
can lay their axe upon. 

At this time Horatio N. Bigelow was the presiding genius of the 
village; he was the agent and manager of the three corporations — the 
Lancaster Mills, the Clinton Company, and the Counterpane mills ; under 
his supervision all the mills were built and enlarged ; the streets were laid 



Clintonville in 1846 67 

out and built. He lived on Union street, in a boarding house of the 
Clinton Company. This house was built in a hollow, which hollow was 
afterward filled about ten feet, the earth being taken from land now occu- 
pied by the Catholic church. John C. Hoadley was the civil eng ineer. 

During the year 1846-47, large additions and improvements were 
made. H. N. Bigelow bought a large tract of land of Mrs. Sally Harris, 
and laid out our Common — which he afterwards gave to the town of 
Clinton — Walnut and Chestnut streets, and extended Church street from 
High street easterly as far as Prescott street. The hill between my present 
house and the school-house was cut down six feet or more, the material 
being used to fill the swamp in front of the Town Hall and the Unitarian 
church. The new Congregational church was built. Rev. W. H. Corning, 
pastor, H. N. Bigelow giving the land and contributing very largely of his 
means, as also did E. B. Bigelow, for its erection. He also gave the land 
for the Baptist society. The Clinton House was built, and opened by a 
supper, Horace Faulkner and Jerome S. Burditt being the new landlords. 
The Baptist society. Rev. CM. Bowers, pastor, who had been worshipping 
in the brick school- house, moved into the chapel vacated by the Congre- 
gationalists. 

Ballard & Messenger started the Lancaster Courant. Joseph Willard 
opened a furniture shop where Dartt's grocery store now is. This shop 
was originally a stable back of Kendall's house. Gilbert Greene built a 
new store and house on High street, where Greene's block now stands. 
Lancaster Mills completed their five-acre weaving room and their new dye- 
house, and made the first Lancaster ginghams. 

The Worcester & Nashua Railroad Company commenced grading 
their road, having a large gang of shovelers and teams cutting through the 
hill and filling the meadow toward Lancaster. They ran the first train 
through to Ayer in July, 1848, having a turntable at the station. It was 
completed to Worcester the next year. 

H. N. Bigelow built the house in which he and his widow lived for 
over forty years. Asa H. Peirce built the block on Church street, nearly 
opposite Murphy Bros.' stable. 

At this time we had no post-office in Clintonville. Our mail was 
brought by stage from Shirley, Absalom Gale, driver, and the portion for 
Clintonville was brought to L. F. Bancroft's store, and then given out. If 
people were in a hurry for their mail, they would drive over to Lancaster 
for it. I remember that having an excellent saddle horse, and not having 
much to do, I used to ride over nearly every day. At that time the late 
John T. Dame was the assistant postmaster, and in that capacity I first 
became acquainted with him. John C. Stiles started a line of coaches, 
running twice a day to Worcester, which was well patronized. 

Charles G. Stevens came to town, the first lawyer located here. He 
had an office over G. H. Kendall's store. Charles W. Field also came to 
town and located, and opened a shop in the same place where he has been 
ever since. 

Our only voting place was in Lancaster Centre, and we all had to get 



68 Clintowoille in 1846 

teams as best we could to go over ; G. H. Kendall and Albert S. Carleton 
generally provided barges to take the Whig voters over ; I don't remem- 
ber how the Democrats got over ; there were not many of them in the 
village at that time. There was no fire department, no police, no ceme- 
tery, no poor-house — everything of that nature was in or near the middle 
of the town of Lancaster. 

H. N. Bigelow built a school-house on the corner of Church and 
Walnut streets for a private school, and a Miss Rugg of Sterhng was 
engaged as teacher. This building after many removals, was finally 
located on High street by Levi H. Carter, and is now used as a restaurant. 

On July 4th there was a great temperance celebration ; tables were 
erected in the pine grove where our railroad station now stands ; all the 
boys and girls from Sterhng, Lancaster and surrounding towns came in 
crowds. Ezra Sawyer was chief marshal. Speeches were made by Rev. 
J. W. Cross of West Boylston, Rev. W. P. Paine of Holden, H. N. 
Bigelow and others. For further particulars, see the Lancaster Courant 
of that date, in which is an article written by J. C. Hoadley. 

In the winter a course of lectures was arranged ; lectures were given 
by Hon. Isaac Davis of Worcester, Rev. J. W. Cross of West Boylston, 
J. C. Hoadley, C. G. Stevens, A. S. Carleton, by the writer of these rem- 
iniscences, and others. These lectures were well received by the public, 
and were about the only amusements of the people during that winter. 

Deacon William Stearns came to town from Lancaster and built the 
shop now occupied by Nicholas Teasdale. 

Luther Gaylord had a shop built by Franklin Conant and Ephraim 
Fuller, on the site of Eben S. Fuller's planing mill, where he made steel 
forks, garden rakes, etc., damming Goodrich's (or Gutti'ich's) brook with 
material carted from the cut through Guttrich Hill by the Worcester & 
Nashua Railroad. I remember J. C. Parsons, a slender, dark-eyed, dark- 
bearded young man, who came to town and worked for Mr. Gaylord. Mr. 
Gaylord built the house now occupied by Eben S. Fuller; he afterwards 
moved to Connecticut. 

The highways to the adjoining towns were in a bad condition, being 
very circuitous, and generally were more like cart-paths. For instance, 
the only way to Sterling was up the Rigby road, then it turned to the left, 
by a very crooked path up by some small houses south of William Mac- 
Rell's ; thence by Ephraim MacRell's house, thence north to the Butterick 
farm; thence west by P^ber Goddard's saw-mill and the four ponds. On 
the guide-l)oard near the Butterick farm was nailed a pair of deer's horns, 
said to be the horns of the last deer shot in this vicinity ; hence this dis- 
trict was and is now called "Deer's Horns." 

The way to Berlin was from Sidney Harris' by the so-called Pat 
Moran road to West Berlin, or by a bridle-path on the east side of Clam- 
shell Pond, meeting the road near Loi-enzo Wood's place. 'J'he road to 
Boylston was equally bad and circuitous, being by way of Caleb Carruth's 
and over Wilson Hill by the Teasdale farm. Another way was by the 
Barnard farm and the Cunningham place to Sawyer's Mills. The only 



Clintonville in 1846 69 

direct roads were to West Boylston and Lancaster. The East woods were 
intersected by many bridle paths, which were quite passable by horse 
and wagons. 

The Mr. Teasdale, of whom I have just spoken, 1 believe was a 
Welshman ; at any rate his speech was very broken. He had the reputa- 
tion of running a private still, where he made cider brandy for his own 
delectation. The old Teasdale house was burned a short time since, and 
a new house, built by D. W. Carville, is on the old site. 

The physicians in town in 1846 were Dr. Symonds, Dr. Burdett and 
myself. We were kindly assisted in our labors by Drs. Carter, Lincoln, 
and J. L. S. Thompson, of Lancaster, and Dr. P. T. Kendall of Sterling. 
These have all passed to their reward. Probably no man in this section 
had such a reputation as a physician and surgeon as the late Dr. Carter. 
He then had his office in the house now occupied by Dr. G. L, Tobey, in 
Lancaster. He was a queer compound of ignorance, wisdom, tact and skill 
in prescribing, and today is remembered by his old patients with the 
greatest kindness and respect, I might almost say, reverence. I once 
heard a man say that it would do more to cure a patient to see his old 
grey horse and sulky drive into the yard, than all the medicine of all 
the doctors within ten miles. He never received a diploma from any 
medical college, but had a license to practice from the Massachusetts 
Medical Society. He had a very oracular way of answering questions. 
Soon after I came here a man was injured at the Counterpane mill, and of 
course Dr. Carter must be sent for. He visited the patient, came down 
stairs, the companions of the injured man crowding around him. " Well, 
doctor, what do you think of the man?" He paused, then said, ''Four 
times six is twenty-four. Go 'long." The man died the next day. This 
passed for wisdom. 

Of course there was the usual number of itinerant doctors of all kinds 
and stripes — botanic, Indian, eclectics, electrics, magnetic and mesmeric 
quacks ; but they would only remain a few days, and having reaped their 
harvest would depart. 

We had one fortune-teller, "Miss Hammond." an old colored woman, 
who lived on the Monroe place, on the road to Mossy Pond. Young 
people made up picnic parties Saturday afternoons and public days, and 
went up to have their future told them, by means of an old dirty pack of 
cards ; her fee was ten cents. 

There was a flourishing Odd Fellows Lodge at South Lancaster, to 
which a large portion of the young men belonged, and many spent their 
evenings at these meetings. There were no whist parties, no whist clubs, 
no croquet or tennis, or golf clubs ; in fact, amusements of all kinds were 
generally frowned upon and considered frivolous and non-edifying. Occa- 
sionally a tea party was given, not a five o'clock tea by any means. The 
women generally did their own housework, and stayed at home and took 
care of their children. There was but little money, and people had little 
time to spend in mere amusement. 

Nearly every house in town was built with a mortgage, and to pay off 



70 Clintonvtlle in 1846 

this mortgage was the grand purpose of the proprietor. Building lots 
were very low, a lot 50 x 150 could be bought for $100 ; the same lot now 
would bring twenty or thirty times as much. 

I will take this opportunity to state that there are only five, perhaps 
six, persons now living in Clinton who were voters and living in Clinton- 
ville when I came to town. 



CUNTONTONVILLE IN 1847 



Dr. DANIEL B. INGALLS — Dec. 9, 1895. 



As in ancient times it was said that all roads lead to Babylon the 
magnificent, so in the later " forties" it would seem that all roads led to 
Clin ton ville. 

In the fall of 1 847 we made our first acquaintance with this part of 
Massachusetts. We w ere here without any planning or forethought of 
our own. Perhaps it is true that "there's a divinity that shapes our ends, 
rough-hew them how we will." When at sixteen I was apprenticed to 
learn the machinist's trade at Norwich, Ct., I expected to remain a citizen 
of that state. In the spring of 1847 the firm for whom I worked failed, 
owing most of us a quarter r»f a year's pay, which was a large part of what 
we had counted as our worldly assets. 

Another boy and myself, with boy's courage, went to Bangor, Me., 
where we procured work at $1.50 per day, which we thought very satis- 
factory. We expected then to make that state our home. We had just 
become wonted, and looked hopefully to the future, when my friend was 
striken down by a severe hemon-hage from the lungs. During that fearful 
moment when the stream of life seemed to have broken away from its 
bounds, he looked up, calling me by name, and said, "This means some- 
thing." It did ; it meant the close of life to him in a few months, and a 
recast of mine, from a himoan standpoint. 

By the advice of the physician, whose fatherly kindness is not to be 
forgotten, I took my friend to his Connecticut home. While considering 
the question of returning to the state of Maine, I went to Worcester. At 
the Foster street station was a coach with " Clintonville " printed upon 
its side ; the name reminded me of a fact that I learned before leaving 
home, namely, that an aunt of mine had recently moved from Lowell to 
Clintonville. Being so near, on the moment, 1 decided to call upon her, 
and stepped upon the outside of the coach with J. C. Stiles, and enjoyed 
my first ride from Worcester to this place, 

A look bacliward helps to solve the strange experience of that year. 
In Vermont, that same year, a fever broke out among the girls to go 
out into the world to seek their fortune — thinking, no doubt, that Ver- 



72 Clintonville in 1847 

mont was as good a state for women to emigrate from as it had been for 
men. Some of them came to this village by coach, leaving the cars at 
Shirley. If matches are made in Heaven, and the two parties reside, one 
in Vermont and the other in Connecticut, there must be some influence 
brought to bear upon one. or both, to bring them together, and this part 
of Massachusetts would seem to be an equitable compromise as a place of 
meeting. 

After a pleasant visit I was about to return home, when one of my 
friends asked why I did not go up and see Deacon Parker, and go to work 
here. "And who is Deacon Parker?" we asked. " Why, he has charge 
of the great machine shop up to the Coachlace, where over two hundred 
men are employed building machinery for the new mills here." 

We accepted the suggestion and introduced ourself to Deacon Parker, 
with the usual inquiry : "Are you in want of help?" " Yes ; what can 
you do?" were the words that gave me my first impression of the man. 
In the course of our conversation we learned that $1.25 per day for what 
he called "pretty good machinists" was what they were paying them; 
they went to work before breakfast, and the day's work closed at 7 p. m. 
Those hours did not seem so bad then, as my memory went back to a time 
when the workday closed at 8 p. m. Truly, if work be the burden of life, 
the yoke is not quite as heavy as it was fifty years ago. 

Deacon Parker at this time was in the prime of life — forty-two years 
of age. He impressed me as a frank, open-hearted, self-possessed, honest 
man. There was no sham about him. He had none of that suavity of 
manners that oils the way to good-fellowship in the life of the popular 
man. He had a way of expressing himself with a look that manifested 
his contempt for insincerity in others. No one thought of him as selfish 
in his intercourse with his fellow-men. While true to his employers, he 
was helpful to those in his employ, and in general was public-spirited in 
the best sense of the word. In a business way I never met a person who 
made a deeper impression upon my early life, as to what the true citizen 
should be, than did Deacon Joseph B. Parker. 

His position at this time was a trying one as foreman of ordinary 
machine shops and superintendent of the manufacture of tried machines, 
with such improvements as Iheir ingenuity might suggest. He was an 
important actor in a great revolution that has gradually changed so many 
departments of human industry. He was expected to bring into working 
order ideal machines, gifted with the ability to do what had never been 
done by machinery, run by power. There have been great achievements 
in this department since his day, and what he did may look simple now, 
but his was the work of the pioneer, whose success makes after-efforts less 
difficult. 

One afternoon, in the attic of the old shop, where we were taking to 
pieces one of the early carpet looms in order to try a new combination, the 
deacon gave us a word picture of the qualifications of the two minds nec- 
essary to put an untried invention into successful working order. No one 
could fail to recognize Mr. Bigelow and himself in the vivid picture pre- 



Clintonville in 1847 73 

sented, and the inventor did not suffer by appearing in the composite 
picture. Fortunate indeed is the inventor who has a right-hand man with 
the practical ability that Deacon Parker was possessed of, to help his 
ideals to materialize. 

There could be no comparison between these two men. Their natural 
and supplemental gifts were too unlike. They were too individual in their 
spheres to admit of any jealousy between them. They were builders ; 
neither of them would appear at their best unless they were striving to 
improve on the machinery of today for the benefit of tomorrow. Such a 
combination of talent and circumstances would put life and pi'osperity into 
any community. I heard a business man say, some time in the "fifties," 
that he would give one thousand dollars to any one who would tell him 
of a new place that was starting with as favorable a combiaation of the 
elements of success as existed at the starting of Clintonville. It is not 
those natural facilities that have so much to do in the decision of the 
question of location in starting most manufacturing towns, such as power 
and facilities for transportation. It was not location, but genius united 
with executive ability that started Clinton in its orbit with a momentum 
that has excited the admiration ot the envy of other communities. 

When we first saw Clintonville they were making counterpanes at the 
old mill that bore that name. The plant of the worsted mill was occupied 
by a small wooden mill where they wove coachlace and a few ginghams — 
and the machine shop. Where the Bigelow Carpet Company's weaving 
mill now stands, or in that valley, G. M. Palmer had his foundry. At the 
East Village there was a small mill, as compared to the present plant, and 
they were just constructing those overshot wheels, so large that it was 
thought they were providing for great things. 

There was at least one of the old landmarks left there. The old Pitts 
carding mill was standing just below the bridge, somewhere between the 
present counting-room and the river, a building after the style of those 
seen in different parts of the country today, where the wool was carded to 
be worked up in the family to provide clothing to meet their necessities. 
The memory of these ruins, like the Passover feast to the Jews, is calcu- 
lated to remind us of the deprivations and self-denials of those who have 
given us, under God, the privileges we enjoy. This building, according 
to the best light we have, was removed in the summer or fall of 1848. I 
have not been able to verify my recollections. My father had the con- 
tract to take it down, and I assisted him a few days. And he came here 
in the spring of 1848. 

The place I involuntarily find myself when in imagination the attempt 
is made to look over Clintonville as it was in 1847, is in that building in 
the worsted mill yard, at your left as you pass through the gate. At that 
time it was the machine shop, and a lively place in more senses than one. 
A large number were employed there, most of them young men represent- 
ing most of the northern states. To keep this little army in hand and 
profitably at work was no light undertaking. "The Deacon," as we called 
him, had his work well systematized. The frames, or skeletons of the 



74 Clintonville in 1847 

machine, together with the heavy shafts, were-made and put together in 
the lower room under the direction of Horace Whitney, one of the four 
men appointed to look after the details of the work. The lighter work 
was done upstairs ; Jonas Hunt and Albert H. Smith at that time had 
charge of the men at work on the different parts of the last lot of coach- 
lace looms that they built here. And Edward W. Goodale had charge of 
those who were at work on the thousand and one things required to com- 
plete the various machines made. At this time these four men were 
active, wide-awake, in the prime of life, and were expected to keep things 
moving. It is surprising when we remember what they had to contend 
with, that they all lived to pass the alloted age of man. All four have 
died within a few years. 

My first work here was upon the coachlace looms under the super- 
vision of Mr. Smith, with whom I formed a pleasant acquaintance which 
lasted until the close of his life. I shall be pardoned for another very 
personal incident, as it calls to mind a custom that has well-nigh gone out 
of use. A young man by the name of Russell, who worked in the lower 
room, took a contract to make and fit in the main and crank shafts for 
two hundred and twenty-five looms for the Lancaster Mills. He invited 
me to go in company with him, handicapped by certain conditions, which 
proposition was accepted. When we settled it was found that we had 
made $2.06 per day, enough over and above my day pay to enable me to 
buy my time, paying my father $100 for my time from nineteen to twenty- 
one. Mr. Russell, or as we always called him, "Russ," went west, and 
the last I heard of him he was a judge in Oregon. 

Of the men whom we looked up to as the leaders in the business as 
well as the social affairs of the village, many have passed on. Horatio N. 
Bigelow had charge of the three corporations, and had his hand upon every 
enterprise that was calculated to promote the permanent good of the em- 
bryo town. He also held the commission of postmaster. He would have 
left a much larger fortune if he had charged for the services he rendered 
this town. 

The popular man of the town, who was equally happy in presiding at 
a public meeting, responding to an after-dinner toast, or making a pre- 
sentation speech, was Albert S. Carleton. 

George N. Bigelow and Artemas E. Bigelow were early in the field 
looking after the educational interests of this part of Lancaster. In 1847 
the town graded the schools of Clintonville into three grades, making our 
graded school system older than the town of Clinton. 

Rev. C. M. Bowers and Rev. W. H. Corning came to town this year, 
1847, and both took an active interest in everything that pertained to the 
welfare of the town. Ezra Sawyer was an active man in town affairs. He 
was elected representative to the general court in 1847 by the Whigs, 
receiving 247 votes. His competitor for the office was Elisha Turner, 
who received 160 votes on the Native American ticket. 

The vote for governor that year was 408, divided between Whigs, 
Democrats, Native Americans and Abolitionists, the territory comprising 



Clintonville in 1847 75 

what is now Lancaster and Clinton, voting. Lancaster last year had 416 
votes, therefore she has recovered what she lost in voters by Clinton 
becoming a town, and Clinton's vote represents the gain to this territory. 

The pioneer in the legal profession, Hon. Charles G. Stevens, came to 
Clintonville in 1846, and at the time of which we write, his was a directing 
hand in the formation of the institutions of the town as well as later in 
the organization of the town itself. 

John T. Dame at this time was located at Lancaster Centre, moving 
to Clintonville laier ; he identified himself with the interests of the new 
community, and gave much time and thought to the financial and educa- 
tional welfare of the town, an interest that continued until the day of his 
death. 

Dr. Symonds came from the center of the town, where he had been 
with Dr. Carter, in 1845, opening an office in the new village; he prac- 
ticed here until his death. 

The two physicians who came soon after Dr. Symonds (Drs. Geo. M. 
Morse and Geo. W. Burdett), are still too young and active to allow me 
to speak of their pi'ominence in Clinton society at so early a date. They 
are members of this society and have spoken for themselves. 

Drs. Carter and Lincoln fx'om the Centre shared the practice with the 
younger men, and the former has left an eccentric history that, if properly 
worked up, would make an interesting volume. 

The Congregational church had been organized three years when I 
came here. The Baptist church organized that year, July 8th, 1847, 
although the society was legally incorporated March 18th, 1816, to enable 
citizens who wished such an opportunity to comply with the constitution 
of the state and the laws made in accordance therewith, that required all 
voters to be taxed to support the "standing order," unless they produced 
a certificate of membership in some other religious society. The consti- 
tution was changed in 1833. 

The Roman Catholic church of Worcester had a mission station here ; 
their house on Main street was not built until 1849. At that time a large 
proportion of the church-going population attended the Congregational 
church. 

The social, educational and religious, as well as political interests, 
were largely associated with the vestry of that church ; there they held the 
first town meetings. It was open to all gatherings calculated to benefit the 
people. Not the least among the organizations meeting there, in the judg- 
ment of a young man, was the Village Sewing Circle, which, true to the 
name, taught the use of the needle instead of the knife and fork ; and 
some of the boy pupils there have since found that part of their education 
very helpful in an emergency, and the business air of these gatherings 
helped to break up the stiffness and embarrassment that young people 
suffered from in those days. 

Strange as it may seem today, it was quite a problem then how to 
bring about the opportunity so that the large number of girls who had 
come from all the adjoining states to help in the experiment of making 



76 Clmtonville in 1847 

ginghams, and the boys who were at work upon the machinery, could 
become acquainted. It was thought that it was necessary to cultivate the 
social element as an antidote for that feeling that came to many who were 
away from home for the first time. 

The prudential method adopted here of having some boarding houses 
for men and others for women, created a condition of domestic life so 
unlike what they had left, that many looked back and longed to enjoy the 
mixed company that came together around the family table. 

One of the plans resorted to in the winter of '47 and '48 was what 
was called the Mechanics' Ball. It came off at the Lancaster House, as it 
was vulgarly called then, Dec. 15th, 1847. The date was fixed weeks 
before the event occurred. There were a good many things to be attended 
to. The qualifications necessary to make such an event a success had 
been neglected in the education of some of the young men ; and to many 
of them the intricacies of a cotillion looked as formidable as the first effort 
to ride a bicycle, and as essential then as now that there should be con- 
siderable private practice to acquire confidence, before appearing in public. 
Kind friends opened their houses for drill rooms, and the time was im- 
proved preparing the novitiates for the ordeal that they dreaded but would 
not miss. But how the boys of the Coachlace and the girls of the East 
Village became paired for the occasion was nevf-r told, farther than to say 
that there has always been a way since they went into the ark, two by 
two ; and whether to call the genius who presides over the details of such 
events instinct or reason, may be an open question. 

The occasion was a very pleasant one, without any serious accident. 
At least seven couples who became acquainted to enjoy that occasion con- 
cluded to dance to each others' music the rest of life. The event was a 
success in a matrimonial line as well as forever removing all anxiety about 
the question of Clinton boys and girls becoming acquainted. 

After this Clinton became a very enjoyable place socially, with less 
division into classes than was found in older places ; that winter the Clin- 
ton House was opened and the dining-room furnished a place for the social 
gatherings where a little more freedom could be enjoyed than in the 
church vestry. 

There was no lack of excitement or intellectual entertainment ; we 
were in the midst of the Mexican War. This year Charles Sumner made 
one of his great speeches in Faneuil Hall, which was applauded by the 
Peace societies in this country and abroad. He demanded the withdrawal 
of the American troops from Mexican soil. "The war," he said, "is not 
only unconstitutional, it is unjust ; it is vile in its object and character. 
Such a war must be accursed in the sight of God. Why is it not accursed 
in the sight of man ? " Mr. Sumner was thirty-six years of age at this 
time, and then commenced one of the most exciting campaigns in Massa- 
chusetts' history, culminating in the election of Charles Sumner, three 
years later, as the successor of Daniel Webster, to the United States 
Senate, by a union of the Free-Soil and Democratic members of the legis- 
lature. There being no choice of governor by the people, they made Geo. 



CUntonville in 1847 77 

S. Boutwell, governor ; Henry Wilson, president of the senate ; Nathaniel 
P. Banks, speaker of the house ; and Charles Sumner, United States Sen- 
ator, two Democrats and two Free-Soilers — four men that have helped to 
make history. 

As for the hterary opportunities, the lecture platform was the popular 
entertainment, and many men whose names are familiar in the homes of 
today were making their reputation then, and giving their services for a 
compensation that would hardly pay the hotel bills of the lecturers of 
today. 

The next month after I came here, John B. Gough lectured in the 
Congregational church. He was then a very slim, wiry man, exhibiting 
his natural gifts rather than his later accomplishments. One thing I 
remember about his lecture. He used as an illustration the "jumping 
jack," and put himself through the motions one gets in operating that toy 
with such success that I have never since seen one without thinking of Mr. 
Gough. He was just entering upon that brilliant lecture career that gave 
him his world-wide reputation. 

There were many young men here at that time that we should like to 
mention ; some are with us still. You will pardon me if I mention one. 
Soon after going to work here there came into the shop a light, curly- 
haired boy to learn the business, by the name of Josiah H. Vose. He was 
a bright, active and industrious young man, ever trying to prepare himself 
for something in advance of his present attainments. He took an active 
part in all the literary societies. It was in connection with a debating 
society that a mock trial was held, at which he presided as "judge," giv- 
ing him a title that he held for many years. I speak of Mr. Vose as one 
of the brightest young men of that period whom I became acquainted with. 
We roomed together at one time and I knew something of his aim in life 
and the manly efforts he put forth to attain to the position he occupied at 
the breaking out of the war, and whatever position he attained was acquired 
by faithful industry. It seems to me that the war crossed his path as a 
personal calamity ; probably no man ever went into the army with less 
natural taste for that kind of service than Mr. Vose. Nothing but a 
sense of duty could have prompted him to enter the army. We realize 
that thousands made the same sacrifice and are entitled to all honor ; still, 
in speaking of Mr. Vose without comparison, we believe he could have 
served his country better in those walks of life that were more congenial 
to his tastes. He won the glory of the soldier by giving his life to his 
country ; the state lost a man that was peculiarly adapted for service in 
her civil and business departments. 

As I remember the sentiment of those who did the work in the various 
callings of that day, very few expected to make what they were doing then 
their life work. They were striving to earn some money that would enable 
them to buy a farm, to go into business, or to procure an education that 
would fit them for some professional calling : and they labored under the 
inspiration of hope that there was something better for them than work 
which, they intended, should be but a stepping-stone to a fuller realization 



78 Clintonville in 1847 

of their ambition. A sentiment, if you please, but a condition that not 
only stimulates growth in the individual, but helps to lift, in a raeasm-e, 
the burden from toil. 

A picture in contrast was presented me at the potteries in London ; 
as we were leaving the works, one of the workmen was standing at the 
door, and in passing we asked him how long he had worked there. He 
dropped his head as though the question awakened unpleasant thoughts, 
as he said, "Ever since I can remember; and what is more, my father 
worked here and his father before him." And then with a pathos that only 
comes with words that express the deep feelings of the individual, he said, 
"And what is sadder than all the rest, I know that this boy," looking 
down upon the little fellow by his side, "will in all probability spend his 
life in the same place, doing the same kind of work that his fathers have 
done before him ;" and continuing, he said : "Looking back over my own 
life I can see what the future of this boy will be." 

The sentiment of the people, as we saw it in Clintonville in 1847, and 
as presented by this London incident in 1875, brings out the contrast be- 
tween the two theories in the industrial world ; namely, whether the indi- 
vidual shall be lost in the guild, or the guild be animated by independent, 
thoughtful individuality, with the door ever open, encouraging each indi- 
vidual to strive to realize the highest possibilities that his capacity and 
the circumstances will allow. One course makes the nation's ideal product 
manhood, the other its commercial commodities. 

Clinton, to most of us, is our adopted home ; her prosperity, as her 
loss, comes to those who have watched her growth from small beginnings, 
as a personal joy or sorrow. It is our home ; our dead sleep beneath her 
soil and we cannot be indifferent as to her future 2;rowth and standing 
among the municipalities of this commonwealth. I think you will agree 
with me that she sprang into importance and beauty, more from the re- 
markable gifts and public spirit of her founders, than from any natural 
resources. We have to a certain extent become a railroad center, but we 
have upon our borders two cities, Worcester and Fitchburg, whose indus- 
tries are varied, and largely owned by their own citizens. Our industries, 
to a large extent are owned by men outside of the town, and therefore they 
cannot take part in the management of our municipal affairs in which they 
are pecuniarily interested. Our hope of growth must depend largely upon 
retaining the confidence of those to whom we look to contribute to that end. 
It can only be done by maintaining an honest, public-spirited management 
of the affairs of the town. And let us hope that the public spirit and 
honest enterprise that laid the foundation for our town may be revived to 
perpetuate its growth. 



Memories of Former Clinton Ministers 



Kev. CHARLES M. BOWERS, D.D. — June 8, 1896 



Until within about seventy years the clerical profession had in the 
towns of New England a very great influence not only in religious matters 
but also in educational, social and civil questions as well. They were to 
a considerable degree the educated class, and in some places where the 
parish embraced the entire town the minister was the only college gradu- 
ate. Consequently he became in a sense a kind of pope in the community. 
When Harvard College was started the main idea seemed to be, according 
to its seal, "For Christ and the Church," to supply proper qualifications 
for preachers. Ministerial dignity was something wonderful, and New 
England history tells us of the former times when a clergyman left his 
study to enter the family circle, all the children, of whom there was gen- 
erally in the home of the holy man an abundant supply, rose and remained 
standing until he had taken his chair. In many towns when the hour of 
Sabbath worship had come the sexton went to the house of the preacher, 
marched before him to church, preceded him up the aisle of the sanctuary 
to the pulpit stairs, and there left him to make what further progress was 
necessary in ascending to his throne. At the close of service the congre- 
gation ai'ose and remained standing in solemn reverence until he had passed 
out of the house. It was also regarded as presumption for one minister to 
preach within the parish limits of another without securing the permission 
of the autocrat of the premises. 

All such things have passed away, and the ministry of to-day is 
stripped of the authority and singular sanctity that once gave it peculiar 
power. A writer in one of the magazines recently declared, "No one 
thinks to-day of the preacher as a living force in his community." It 
ought to be a matter of general congratulation that some change has come 
over the religious world in regard to the manner in which the pulpit shall 
be judged and what kind of influence shall be allowed to it. But when one 
asserts it has ceased to be a living force anywhere the most superficial ob- 
sei-vation protests against the falsehood. Intellect, speculation, inquiry 
and educational institutions were never so alive as to-day, and they never 
had a closer relation to the life of preachers than in the closing days of 
our century. No live community of any size would any more think of 



80 Memories of former Clinton Ministers 

getting along without a proportion of ministerial gifts than it would pro- 
pose to live without merchants, mechanics or common laborers. Preach- 
ers are a necessary evil as truly as doctors, lawyers or pedagogues. To say 
that men like Brooks, Lorimer, Savage, Hale, Gordon, Storrs and Park- 
hurst with their large following are not living forces is to talk nonsense. 
Every college in the land has a part of its life in the life of the preaching 
class. John D. Rockefeller's millions call clergymen to make one of the 
greatest institutions of our times. Would judges and lawyers or doctors 
and compounders of medicines turn from their work to make a university ? 
Are colleges, religious journals, translators of the languages and litera- 
tures of the world live things, or are they corpses that smell through long 
waiting for burial ? As there is not on earth such a force to-day as relig- 
ion, so there are no forces in human shape so full of fiery power as the 
ministers of religion. Every kind of society organization and movement 
is crying out "Let the preacher speak." 

If, however, the clergy have lost power of a certain kind they have 
gained vastly more of another sort. We are glad that the age has little 
use for the sermons of a hundred years ago or for the customs that 
almost divided ministers from the common life of average men ; and that 
they are gone never to return. To-day is a better day with a better influ- 
ence for religious teachers in that they are measured by what is real and 
true in them in knowledge, attainments and proper manhood. It is a very 
interesting fact that when a minister to-day preaches another man's ser- 
mon he usually steals one from some pi-eacher of his own generation, inas- 
much as the musty old volumes of the past would hardly supply life enough 
for the warm blood of our times. 

A sounding board over the head of the minister was one of the favor- 
ite institutions of a century ago, and it was said to be intended for throw- 
ing out the sound of the preacher's voice, but there were hundreds of meet- 
ing-houses where, when the sound was thrown out, there wasn't much of 
anything left of the sermon. 

This may seem a long introduction to the present paper in which we 
propose to give some brief notices of certain clerical worthies who for a 
time served the churches of Clinton but have now joined the great majority 
beyond. Most of them were fully alive to the demands of the age in re- 
gard to what makes a good citizen and a worthy builder of true home life. 

Since the development of Clinton as a manufacturing center nearly 
fifty different clergymen have resided here to prosecute the work of their 
calling in the denominational worship with which they were connected. Some 
general facts in regard to them as a class may be mentioned much to their 
credit. Of all the men who make this part of the ecclesiastical history of 
our town no name has been associated with any low, distressing scandal. 
It is rare that in so large a place as Clinton, with nearly fifty occupants of 
its various pulpits, all have been gentlemen of pure, clean lives, none have 
had any reputation for meanness, none been discredited by financial short 
comings, none marked by any special quality of the baser kind. Nonee 
ever entered into bitter theological strife with their brethren, and non 



Memories of former Clinton Ministers 81 

ever wrought destruction in the circle of their own fellowship. With all 
the varieties of taste, temperament, opinions and predisposition that might 
be supposed to divide fifty individuals, none ever declared war against his 
neighbor or indulged in the verbal lynching of his fellow christian. Ex- 
positions of truth and expositions of error were given occasionally, but 
without personal severity or theological malice. The churches have been 
quiet in their relation to each other because the pulpits kept the peace. An 
element in the worth of these men is that none, so far as we know, ever 
gave to the world a son characterized by a depravity that would exclude 
him from virtuous companionship with a town or city politician or an Irish 
office-seeker. The worst we ever knew of any of these worthies was, one 
drove the best horse in town, another was charged with sui-plus radicalism, 
one had a tendency to absent-mindedness, two edited the village paper for 
a period, and two went to the legislature for a session or more, one became a 
practitioner of a new medical system, having previously attained distinction 
in the clerical discipline of croquet. While none of them ever reached the 
fame of a Talmage, a Beecher, a Cuyler, a Kallock or a Meredith, nearly 
all attained a position of fair usefulness and honor. One, indeed, sur- 
passed his fellows in reaching the dignity of Bishop in the largest denomi- 
nation of the land. 

One thing is very remarkable, however, touching the ministers of 
Clinton. No one has died while in active service in the town and thus 
honored our cemetery by "sleeping the sleep of the just" within its bor- 
ders immediately on closing "life's fitful fever." A respectable portion of 
such valuable dust seems almost essential to making the final home of 
mortality first-class in its appointments. Two or three real pastors settled 
in a graveyard add interest to its history and associations. 

It might also not improperly be mentioned in this connection that no 
one while in the pastoral office amongst us ever extended his mortal period 
to that age as to awaken solicitation lest his people might have him too 
long on their hands or be obliged in christian tenderness to meet the cost of 
his funeral or burial. In the lapse of half a century no church has been 
called upon for mmisterial funeral expenses, in disposing of a pastor. 
But from generals let us go to particulars in regard to some who have left 
the service of time for the crown of the great forever : 

CONGREGATIONAL PASTORS 

(Rev. J. M. R. Eaton was the first pastor of the Congregational 
Church; he was born in Fitchburg in 1814, and attended Leicester Acad- 
emy, graduating from Amherst College in 1841, and from Andover Theo- 
logical Seminary in 1844. He preached his first sermon in Clinton ville, 
in the "chapel," on Main street, August 3, 1844. On January 9, 1845, 
he was ordained pastor of the church with a salary of $550. He remained 
a little moi'e than two years, concluding his services in April, 1847, three 
months after the dedication of the new church on Walnut street, the edifice 
having been built during his ministry. While in Clinton he occupied as 
a parsonage the house subsequently owned and occupied by Gilbert 



82 Memories of former Clinton Ministers 

Greene, and later by Samuel W. Tyler, the house still standing immedi- 
ately north of the "Tyler block," on High street. South of the house, on 
land now covered by the block, was a spacious garden. He served as one 
of the trustees of the Lancaster school district "No. 10," also on the Lan- 
caster school board. After leaving Clin ton ville he had pastorates : three 
years in Shirley, seventeen years in Henniker, N. H., and seven years in 
Medfield, Mass. Retiring from the ministry he resided for a time in his 
native city of Fitchburg, and then removed to Redlands, California, where 
he died. He was highly esteemed while the pastor of the little church in 
this village, and is on record as possessing a gentle and lovely character. — 
Editor.) 

Rev. W. H. Corning, the second pastor of the Congregational Church, 
was in many respects as notable, strong and instructive a preacher as ever 
filled a Clinton pulpit. He had not quite the average of physical strength 
and vigor, which caused a slight tendency to a nervous attention to the 
state of his health, and prevented his reaching the high place of usefulness 
to which his talents fitted him. If, as Napoleon said, an army moves on 
its belly, so does the ministry to some extent. Indigestion and short sup- 
plies, with associated ailments, cut many preachers down one-half. Corn- 
ing was not reduced that much, but be worked to considerable disadvan- 
tage in being compelled to know he had a stomach or a stomach had him. 
He was a man intellectually well furnished, with a proper round of the 
scholastic theologies of his day, abundantly able to expound the doctrines 
of his faith, not afraid to deal with what our times reproach as dogmas, 
well read in general literature, and possessing a good measure of oratorical 
power as a speaker. The fact that after his pastorate in Clinton he was 
called as a supply for months to the leading pulpit of his denomination in 
Boston, that of the celebrated Park street church, gives a good idea of the 
general ability of the man and shows what possibilities were in him if he 
had been favored with more athletic conditions. But he was too limited 
in height, size, limb and muscle for the best endurance. His sermons 
were good every way, marked by a vein of originality and could be appre- 
ciated by his hearers, both learned and unlearned. He loved occasionally 
to arrest attention by a striking or unusual text like that he selected one 
time from Isaiah xxxiii : 23, "Thy tacklings are loosed." Probably no one 
in the congregation knew before that such words were in Scripture, but 
they had as they listened to the discourse a new appreciation of the ability 
of a wise teacher to bring forth things new and old out of the oracles of 
truth. Although occasionally dealing with some verse or part of a verse 
which never before, perhaps, found its way in any pulpit, or was as much 
unknown to ordinary readers of the Bible as the existence of gold in the 
property owned by some western settlers, he never treated in a way to 
make it ridiculous or for the purpose of proving how curiously he could 
deal with the rare things in the divine record. He never affected the sen- 
sationalist in preaching or used the pulpit as a kind of literary circus per- 
former. It is an interesting fact, by the way, in regard to Clinton, that 
none of its churches were ever served by men that astonished the public 



Memories of former Clinton Ministers 83 

with "ground and lofty tumbling" or substituted intellectual gymnastics 
for manly, honest work. Mr. Coming's sermons had in them always the 
solid matter of well arranged thought. 

Rev. W. D. Hitchcock was the third pastor of the Congregational 
Church. He was a man of wonderful sweetness and gentleness of charac- 
ter, almost too good for some of the stalwart work of rebuking sin and 
carrying on the battle against the world, the flesh and the devil. If he 
knew in himself what sin was or what temptation might be in any of its 
many forms it hardly ever appeared to any one. He lived much in him- 
self intellectually and spiritually. Not that he was indifferent wholly to 
social conditions, but his standard of self -making was so high he had 
to economise his whole life in reaching it. His speech, appearance and 
movement had almost a feminine delicacy in them. He could hardly say 
a rough thing and almost never a radically bold one. This does not mean 
that his mind was destitute of good tone and quality — far from it. If, to 
use a word we heard applied to a minister the other day as a royal virtue, 
he was no "hustler" and did not preach in capital letters and prepare his 
sermons with enormous exclamation marks, he gave liis people the results 
of careful, honest study, and was never surpassed in Sabbath ministrations 
in the production of discourses of able and well digested thought by any of 
his successors. At the same time, in his preaching the best part of his 
sermon was himself. He was an infinitely modest man — too modest and 
given over to too much quiet and retired thinking. He could not thump 
the pulpit or whack the Bible or speak with the voice of thunder. But he 
could do better. Like Moses he could say: "My doctrine shall drop as 
the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the ten- 
der herb and as the showers upon the grass." Hitchcock was the embodi- 
ment of grace and goodness. We have sometimes thought that for cer- 
tain desirable effects in preaching a minister almost needed a grain or two 
of depravity, and perhaps if the good man before us had been tempered 
with some of the make-up of Peter it would have added a degree or two to 
his power. Either because of some mental peculiarity or his great absorp- 
tion in the. supreme idea of his life he manifested at times a surpi-ising 
absent-mindedness. To us this never seemed a weakness or detracted 
from his value as a public teacher. It was rather to his credit, and indi- 
cated how fully he was possessed of the spirit of his calling. It was the 
strange description once given of a remarkable German saint that he was 
"God- intoxicated." To illustrate the obliviousness of Hitchcock's thoughts 
in certain circumstances, we may mention a mistake he made on an ex- 
change in another town. There was an infant to be baptised. He de- 
scended from the pulpit, performed the ceremony and then announced to 
the astonished congregation that the deacons would now proceed to take 
up a collection. Officers and people looked at each other in surprise, some 
smiled, others took upon their faces the tokens of most puzzled inquiry, 
but after some hesitation the deacons passed the boxes and the collection 
was taken ; but whether for the baby, the minister, the church, the choir, 
or what other object, no one ever knew. Perhaps Providence intended to 



84 Memories of former Clinton Ministers 

give the worshipers a lesson that some indefinite giving might occasionally 
be added to their routine benevolences. When Hitchcock, after a few 
short years of service in Clinton, transferred his work to another place, he 
took from us as sweet, gentle and spiritual a life to shine elsewhere as ever 
was connected with the religious history of our town. 

Rev. W. W. Winchester of the Congregational Church was a man one 
remembers with interest for his delightful social qualities, his friendly 
sympathy, his uniform kindness of spirit and courteous manners. What 
might anger some others he met with a peculiar calmness. Perhaps he 
made, however, upon the great and interesting congregation he served a 
less decisive mark than any other pastor, save one, ever settled over it. 
This was not owing to lack of real ability, but some tardiness in the move- 
ment of his blood that often prevented a proper ambition from doing to its 
utmost. Frequently as late as Saturday morning he did not know what 
the next day might bring forth in the nature of a sermon. He was sure 
he never could miss supplying his people with good texts at any rate, 
whatever lack might attend the sequel. With one of the larger congrega- 
tions in Worcester county, happily embracing at that time no small share 
of the intelligence, influence, and enterprise of our town, it naturally seems 
that the whole nature of a minister might have been stimulated to the high- 
est strain of effort to meet the demands of his responsible position. That 
he could talk easily in the pulpit may have prevented, to some extent, his 
hard thinking out of it. He did on rare occasions show the quality in him, 
though planted too far down for ordinary production. One of his first 
sermons in Clinton was on "Conscience." So highly was this discourse 
approved and so valuable were its suggestions that it did good service as a 
stand-by in several repetitions. Many good things are good enough for 
goodness to have the good of proper frequency. Mr. Winchester, per- 
haps should not be charged with any faultiness in not continually pushing 
himself, for it was not in his nature. His home life was too charming for 
vigorous professional effort. His wife was an artist with considerable 
attainment in painting, music, and the ornamental delicacies of a refined 
taste. Providence had given him much to enjoy which necessitated some 
indulgence. If the richest flowers of delight are in our way we must stop 
often to pluck them and enjoy their fragrance. Where Providence tempts 
it is not strange we should find it reasonable to put life on furlough from 
hard work. If any of the people wickedly thought that the famous sermon 
on Conscience might have suggested some possible application on the sup- 
ply of ministerial instruction falling behind a righteous expectation, they 
ought to have remembered that the ten commandments even wei'e not in- 
tended for the practice of the tables of stone that gave them forth, but for 
the practice of the hearers who received them. Mi'. Winchester's ministry 
in Clinton was not long, but it might have been longer if his actual ability 
had been driven into supremest exercise. That he was acceptable to the 
majority of his flock it is just to say, and that he was popular among all 
the people of the town as a good citizen and honorable man entitles him to 
most respectful mention. The credit of having a warm place in the hearts 



Memories of former Clinton Ministers 85 

of the entire community belongs to him, and when he left us he left with 
the reputation of being a good man and a man of larger ability than he 
had constrained himself to give to the service of the world. 

Rev. Benjamin Judkins was also on the roll of worthy men who for a 
time served the Congregational Church in pastoral office. He had the 
ordinary equipment of education and good personal qualities for success in 
his work. He was gifted with a fine commanding voice of such volume 
and penetration as to waken even deaf ears into hearing. He could not 
be described, however, as a preacher with sueh distinct characteristics in 
the matter of his teaching and sermonizing as to make a very decided im- 
pression on his people. All men however worthy, agreeable and good, are 
not equal to all places. It is easier sometimes to understand why a pas- 
torate ended than why it ever began. Gifts that are really valuable may 
fail to fill one place which may fill another to the fullest. It is not 
to the discredit of any man that he has not every kind of ability to 
enter upon fields of exceptional importance ; it is only unfortunate if 
the man is not in all respects large enough for the place or the place 
small enough for the man. In our use of the word large or small the 
question may not be of real ability, but of some kind of popular adjust- 
ment. When an Englishman said all ministers should be taken out and 
shot when they reach sixty years of age, the point did not refer to a real 
decay on their part, but only to the arbitrary dead-line beyond which a 
heartless sentiment would not make their usefulness any longer profitable. 
Some pastorates may not reach a reasonable success only because the 
pews do not adjust themselves to the very qualities in the pulpit they have 
invited to serve them. It is due to Mr. Judkins to say that while candor 
could not put him in the list of great preachers, he may be ranked high 
among the men whose goodness and virtues make them a blessing in any 
community where their lot is cast for a longer or shorter period. 

Rev. Charles Wetherby, another pastor of the Congregational Church, 
would be called by many the best preacher that ever filled the Congrega- 
tional pulpit, all things considered, and perhaps by not a few the ablest min- 
ister ever settled in town. Not that in every particular he surpassed all 
others, but that in more of the qualities which give force, attractiveness 
and ready acceptance to one's ministrations he took the lead. He may not 
have reached the scholarly finish of one in his sermons, or the grace of 
another in the style of his address, or the measure of a third in points of 
discrimination, or the uniform consistency of a fourth in his position being 
the same at all times, but when you took the man altogether he could nearly 
be accounted "primis inter omnes," and certainly he fell behind none in 
general power as a teacher of religion . In the composition of his sei-mons 
he showed a remarkable aptness in picturesque description, keen logical 
quality of mind, and a heart-penetrating persuasiveness in the application 
of truth. A series of discourses given by him on the Great Reformation 
under Luther, at the 400th anniversary of the reformer's birth, was never 
surpassed in the popular interest awakened by any lectures given in the 
town. His church on successive Sabbath evenings was crowded to over- 



86 Memories of former Clinton Ministers 

flowing, and the preacher even outdid himself in the glow of his eloquence 
and the striking effect of his delineation of the wonderful story. In his 
profession as a preacher Mr. Wetherby was a workman of remarkable 
excellence and skill, and was a capital illustration of one of our opening 
remarks, that the minister of our times is taken for just what he is worth. 
The respect accorded him was the same as is mostly bestowed on a re- 
markably good performer in any of the offices of life. Mr. Wetherby was 
greatly honored as filling a large place notably well in all respects. When 
he removed to Milford, where he died, the whole town felt a sense of loss 
like parting with a treasure of incomparable value. 

UNITARIAN PASTORS 

Passing to the pulpit of the Unitarian Church so ably served for the 
most part by a succession of valuable men, we mention the first pastor. 
Rev. L. J. Livermore, with tender regard, as illustrating in the choicest 
degree the good qualities of the man, the citizen, the neighbor and friend. 
By social gifts, by his courtesy, affability, spirit of helpfulness, ready fel- 
lowship and pleasantry, he had an admirable outfit for large usefulness. 
He was a piece of sunshine. Kind words dropped from his lips like 
healthy breathings. He had a vein of wit, but it was never tinged with a 
purpose to sting. His heart had in it a good deal of fellowship with all 
hearts. In his public discourse he did not try any of the ambitious exag- 
gerations of eloquence knowing, as once was said by a sharp literary critic, 
"when a man begins to be eloquent he begins to lie," nor did he ever 
carry his hearers into what has been declared the popular distinction of one 
of our living "tongue performers," flights of fancy, oratory and metaphor 
which are almost bewildering at times," that his preaching was a kind of 
more easy conversation with his people, full of good counsel for daily use, 
and distinguished by sound, practical sense. He did not affect the pi'o- 
found in unprofitable discussions, but taught the wisdom of Scripture as 
related to human responsibility and life. He noticed with pain the triv- 
ialities and small ambitions that enter so generally into social conditions 
and his ministry was marked by a special effort to lift the people into 
the larger relations of true being. So often did he touch on the frivolity of 
fashion and the lighter indulgencies of mere pleasure that shut off the proper 
development of Christian character that he finally seemed to some to be 
giving disproportionate attention to this line of instruction. A pleasant 
illustration of the manner in which his mind was working was given in a 
social gathering when his good wife dropped the remark, ''My children 
are going to the dancing school;" "But mine are not," replied he very 
promptly, though in the most pleasant manner. In this he had not the 
least particle of aversion to the accepted enjoyments of liberal feeling and 
only intended to indicate that the young, even, should be lifted to some 
higher level of thought and experience. When reference is made to his 
free, conversational style of preaching, it is not intended by any means to 
hint that there was any lack of thoroughness in his pulpit work — far from 
it. He never gave his people dough for bread, froth for food, or stood 



Memories of former Clinton Ministers 87 

before them with what one has called "untrimmed sermons." If at times 
he used extemporaneous words he did not turn his hearers off with extem- 
poraneous thinking. Like the conscientious teacher in the schoolroom, he 
was prepared to teach and always manifested a happy fitness thereto. 

Rev. Jared M. Heard was a mau of positive, strong personality. If it 
had a moderate element of abruptness in it, there was no lack in it of a 
real heart. He was richly endowed with intellectual force, and had his 
life been spared to full maturity he would have ranked among the best 
minds of his denomination in all this region. In early youth he passed 
through the excitement of a Methodist experience, but his more advanced 
thinking carried him over to what he regarded as a truer philosophy of 
religion. That he was conscious of possessing large ability did not detract 
from his real worth, for he was conscious only of what was true, and the 
men who reall}' do good service in the world must have some correct idea 
of their measure and calling. Father Taylor once said he could not preach 
as well as some men, but he knew he could preach a great deal better than 
some others. Mr, Heard could happily appreciate in his estimate of him- 
self the latter part of Father Taylor's comparison. As one physician may 
know he knows more than another, and one advocate may properly claim 
he has more legal ability than an'^ther, so may a preacher of some mark 
indulge in the feeling, without being charged with disagreeable conceit, 
that he is superior to many who are only weaklings in his profession. Mr. 
Heard gave free, honest utterance to his convictions, never for a moment 
supposing that the liberalism he rejoiced to represent meant any trimming, 
uncertainty, indistinctness, or withholding of his real belief. Indeed, at 
times he may have been charged with a boldness of doctrine too far ahead 
of the occasion to be consistent with the cold blood of prudence. He did 
not think loud and then speak low, but his strongest thought took its 
strongest word to express it. We remember an occasion when he stood 
almost alone in a great gathering and received from an aged minister of 
his own communion one of the most ill-timed rebukes we ever knew ad- 
ministered in the interest of pure policy and non-committalism, when Mr. 
Heard himself had represented the only position consistent with the 
fundamentals of his faith. He dared to know what he knew, and dared 
to say what his knowledge constrained the saying of. He was in the 
pulpit and before the pulpit what his belief made him say out of the pulpit 
aud to himself. In this he was deserving of the highest respect. 

While serving his parish as pastor he intei'ested himself in the study 
to some extent of natural science. He loved nature. He was a great 
walker. His excursions on foot cai'ried him over this region in every 
direction. Wild flowers, insects, birds, and all the lower orders of ci'eatures 
he felt a peculiar delight in. He would feel an interest in a serpent as a 
serpent even if the Scriptures spelt ils name with a D ; hence, when he 
became our representative to the General Court, an office in which he 
sought to secure some favorable legislation, if possible, for his native 
town, Wayland, in regard to recovering certain overflowed lands for culti- 
vation, he originated and presented a bill authorizing the towns of the 
commonwealth of a certain size to raise by taxation given amounts to be 



88 Memories of former Clinton Ministers 

appropriated to establishing and maintaining museums of natural history 
and for the collection of any and all objects of curiosity that might be 
connected with the several localities or people. The bill was finally 
defeated after some discussion, though the object involved more merit 
than can be found in a part of the enactments of the legislature. As it is 
possible to make anything ridiculous, one of the wags of the legislature 
moved that the bill be so amended as to allow each small town to keep a 
small elephant. The discomfiture of Mr. Heard in the matter on which he 
had set his heart possibly robbed him of a fame beyond that he reached 
as a religious teacher. Public museums all over the state might have 
competed eventually in distinction with public libraries. 

Rev. I. F. Waterhouse was a man of fine presence, genial spirits 
and gentlemanly manners. He came from the Christian church into the 
Unitarian fellowship. His early training for the ministry had not the 
fullness and completeness that usually distinguish the preachers of the 
latter denomination, and it made his position somewhat difficult in his new 
relations. He was industrious, he labored hai'd to meet the demands upon 
his brain, but in entering the field in Clinton he found more educated 
intelligence than he had been called to serve in his former settlements ; 
and he found, too, a class of minds that had enjoyed to some extent in 
Lancaster the teachings of that remarkable scholar and preacher, Rev. 
Edmund H. Sears. He had to meet conditions where the lighter material of 
his providing was naturally in time followed by some disappointment. 
That he was a man of excellent spirit, pleasant address and royal sym- 
pathy with his people in all that concerned their common life could not 
wholly compensate for some lack that appeared in comparison with the 
more solid deliverances of his predecessors. Few ministers of his faith 
ever devoted themselves more carefully to their work or ti-ied harder to 
gain the power to fulfil the responsibility on his hands, but previous lim- 
itations hindered him. As a ministerial figure, pleasant to look upon, 
few could surpass him. In his physical development and shapely form 
he belonged to the best type of manhood. His natural ability was by no 
means inadequate, and if he had enjoyed the severer training and culture 
of our advanced institutions he would have reached an enviable degree 
of success in his work. He was useful up to the measure of his cir- 
cumstances, and many found him a blessing to their hearts in the kind- 
ness of his work and service. 



Early History of Clinton Hospital 



Dr. WALTER P. BOWERS — Dec. 11, 1899 



From Dr. Bowers' address we make copious extracts as below : 

For five years or more prior to any definite action in the matter of 
building a hospital the subject had been casually mentioned when doctors 
met together or when they found themselves confronted with a case de- 
manding special care ; and it is known that several years earlier one of the 
leading ladies of the town, Mrs. M. A. S. Forbes, often urged upon her 
husband the erection of a hospital for the benefit of the operatives in the 
mills ; but nothing developed of a tangible nature, unless it may be said 
that these suggestions were preparing the minds of some for a favorable 
consideration of the matter at the right time. 

So far as the reader knows, the first incident which had direct bearing 
on the creation of a hospital in our community was the meeting of a 
clergyman and a doctor on the High street sidewalk in the early fall of 
1888. This was not prearranged or by design. The clergyman had re- 
cently visited a poor sick woman, and on meeting the doctor casually 
mentioned his perplexities about the proper care and management of the 
case, and explained the situation in detail. Here the doctor turned the 
tables on the minister and preached hospital to him, using the circumstance 
just narrated as forcibly as he was able. 

The clergyman became interested ; he endorsed the sentiment of the 
doctor, proposed a conference later, and these two men then and there 
agreed that Clinton could and should have a hospital, and they would do 
ail in their power to bring it about. The clergyman's name is Thomas L. 
Fisher, and to him belongs the credit and honor of having done more to 
spread the hospital idea in Clinton in its early development and to organ- 
ize the corporation than any other one man. By a fortunate coincidence 
an order, the local branch of the King's Daughters, had been organized in 
Clinton May 22, 1888, and was the first to raise money for the institution 
by the members of Ten No. 5 : Lucy Doggett, Helen B. Hammond, Ger- 
trude Vickery, Lena Schmidt, Catherine Field, Florence Field, Clara 
Fisher, Gertrude Miner, Mabel Breed, Mrs. A. A. Chace, Mrs. William 
Hamilton, Mrs. Fred Ladd, Alice Hosmer, Georgie L. Houghton, Alice 
Brooks, Alice Carter and Maggie Hamilton. We are glad to note that 



90 Early History of Clinton Hospital 

the King's Daughters, while not carrying out the letter of any one of their 
several votes, have fulfilled the spirit in that they have been constant and 
untiring friends of the hospital. During the summer of 1889 the Ten car- 
ried thi'ough a program of entertainments which netted $157, and a series 
of musicales also yielded $149. 

On May 14, 1889, a meeting was held in the Guild room of the 
Episcopal church " to take counsel regarding the organization of the hos- 
pital corporation and needed committees," at which meeting Dr. W. P. 
Bowers, Dr. C. L. French, Mrs. W. S. Doggett, Mrs. E. L. Greene and 
Mrs. J. C. Duncan were chosen a committee to arrange for securing 
names of corporators. Hon. C. G. Stevens offered his assistance in the 
preparation of the needful papers and in securiug a charter. On May 21st 
the preliminary articles of agreement were drafted, this agreement being 
signed by Charles G. Stevens, Edward L. Greene, George M. Morse, 
Charles L. French, James C. Duncan, Helen M. Bowers, Edith P. Greene, 
Elizabeth D. Fisher, Selina Coulter, Jessie F. Duncan, Delia S. Howe, 
Frances P. Doggett, Walter P. Bowers, Nella B. French, Thomas L. Fisher 
and Ellen K. Stevens. 

A constitution with by-laws having been adopted, the following offi- 
cers were elected : President, Charles G. Stevens ; vice-presidents. Dr. 
G. M. Morse and Rev. J. C. Duncan ; secretary, Dr. C. L. French ; treas- 
urer, Edw. L. Greene. 

In those early days the association held meetings monthly and the 
members conducted its affairs, rather than delegate them to its officers 
and committees. 

The assessment of the ordinary members was fixed at $1 and the 
life members at !R50. Among the first life members were : George E. P. 
Dodge, Mrs. Laura R. Stevens, Miss Ellen K. Stevens, Miss S. Lizzie 
Russell, Bayard Thayer, Charles G. Stevens, Mrs. E. V. R. Thayer, John 
E. Thayer, Mrs. Mary W. Fuller, Herman Dietzman (representing the 
Turn Verein), Mrs. Elizabeth W. Bartol, Franklin Nourse, Mrs. J. 
Wyman Jones, George Alfred Brown. 

On Nov. 12, 18^9, the association voted "that the trustees be auth- 
orized to hire a room or rooms, or to recommend some plan by which 
accommodations can be secured for hospital purposes." This action fol- 
lowed a discussion at a meeting of interested ladies, their executive board 
having previously elected Mrs. W. S. Doggett chairman and Mrs. W. P. 
Bowers secretary. At this meeting of the board it was decided " that an 
article be inserted in the local paper aisking for applicants" to furnish a 
desirable hospital room. The advertisement as it appeared in the Courant 
of October lyth, read : "The Clinton Hospital Association would like to 
make some arrangements with a neat, competent, capable woman, who 
may have one or more rooms to rent and who would be able and willing to 
receive and care for, wholly or in part, a few patients who might need 
medical attendance," etc. This advertisement met with a response from 
Mrs. John T. Coulter of Laurel street, who offered certain rooms in her 
house for a hospital. 

The finance committee received its first money October 30th, contri- 



Early History of Clinton Hospital 91 

butions and membership fees, $325, this work by the executive committee 
being only secondary in point of time to the work of the King's Daughters. 
The sums now and previously received warranted making a beginning in 
the task of securing a hospital. 

On Nov. 12th, Mrs. J. K. Burrage and Mrs. A. K. Harris were 
elected members of the executive board, the complete list then including : 
Mrs. Thomas L. Fisher, Mrs. E. L. Greene, Mrs. J. W. Howe, Miss L. 
A. Buckingham, Mrs. Rufus Eager, Miss Minnie Vickery, Mrs. J R. 
Foster, Mrs. C. E. Pyuchon, and Mrs. W. P. Bowers. 

It does not appear that business at the Laurel street hospital was 
very brisk, for on Feb. 5, 1890, it is recorded that " there was nothing of 
importance to report," and " there are no patients in the hospital, that the 
rooms seemed neat and cheerful, and that the door was locked." Also 
that there was no kerosene and the ladies took the liberty of ordering a 
gallon can. 

In September, 1890, it was reported that for the last three months 
there had been at least two patients all the time, and that the matron, Mrs. 
Coulter, had been obliged to secure a servant to assifst her. 

The first work of this hospital was on Dec. 10, 1889, when the first 
patient was received, and the same day Mrs. Coulter was constituted the 
legal matron and nurse. 

Although the hospital had been equipped in a preliminary way and a 
patient received, there was no regular medical staff; and in order to pro- 
vide this necessary part of the working force the following doctors were 
appointed : Drs. Geo. M. Morse, C. L. French, P. P. Comey, and W. P. 
Bowers, Dr. Morse being designated as chairman. Subsequently the staff 
was inci'eased by the addition of Drs. Geo. W. Burdett, Thos. H. O'Con- 
nor, G. L. Tobey and J. J. Goodwin. 

With the responsibility of the first patient, even though she died soon 
after an operation, greater interest and activity were manifested, and it 
was only a few weeks when another and soon another patient was received 
and the novelty of a new patient began to wear away, and everybody con- 
nected with the institution settled down to the systematic task of building 
up a hospital. 

The doctors — if no others — recall the disappointment resulting from 
the death of this first patient and well remember the unkind rumors care- 
fully nursed and disseminated regarding the probable fate of all who dared 
enter. 

Singularly, the surgical hospital on Highland avenue began in the 
same way, but later records show that an unfortunate beginning may not 
be a bad omen of the later history. 

An agitation for a permanent hospital building began in the spring of 
1890. Up to this time there had been made more or less formal offers of 
land for a building. Jonas E. Howe had offered a lot on Burditt Hill ; 
Andrew L. Fitch one on the Fitch road ; E. S. Fullex one on the land the 
other side of the railroad, back of E. A. Currier'si and David H. Maynard 
a lot near his house. This last offer was recalled, because Mr. Maynard's 



92 Early History of Clinton Hospital 

partner did not concur in this idea, but it was while inspecting this land 
of Mr. Maynard's that the present site was discovered. 

At a meeting of the association, January 2, 1890, C. G. Stevens 
and Dr. G. M. Morse were made a committee to negotiate for land for a 
hospital site. This committee investigated the various offers and was im- 
pressed with the Greeley street section as the most suitable by reason of 
the nature of the soil, proper distance from town, height of land, etc., and 
on finding that Mr. Maynard's offer could not be made good the rest of 
that region was explored. The writer remembers looking over the knoll 
where the hospital now stands by invitation of the committee, and of fol- 
lowing Dr. Morse through the scrub oaks until he reached the part over- 
looking the valley below where he. Dr. Morse, exclaimed, "This is the 
place for the hospital !" There never was a more fitting speech. 

Further investigation revealed the fact that the property belonged to 
the Nathaniel Thayer estate, and Dr. Morse politely suggested to the heirs 
that it would be a very acceptable gift. 

February 5, 1891, at a meeting of the association, Dr. Morse read the 
following letter : 

Lancaster, Jan. 19, 1891. 
My Dear Doctor: 

Your letter of the 5th was forwarded to me so I only received it on my 
return here. If the hospital committee desires the lot you speak of, we will pre- 
sent it to them. Yours truly, 

N. THAYER. 

This offer was gratefully accepted, and a committee met W. A. Kil- 
bourn, as the representative of Mr. Thayer, on the lot soon after and ex- 
plained what was wanted, and a deed was delivered May 10, 1892. Later, 
John E. Thayer gave a valuable lot to provide for a frontage on Flagg 
street. 

The association now had demonstrated by its work on Laurel street 
that it was willing and able to carry on the business for which it was cre- 
ated, and there were indications that the Laurel street accommodations 
would soon be too small. A lot of land had been given, intelligent and 
earnest women were working on the executive board and finance commit- 
tee, organizations and individuals were sending contributions so that the 
treasury was slowly gaining in receipts over expenditures. 

This combination of circumstances warranted the next step, viz : the 
building of a hospital. The friends of the institution were ready to meet 
this responsibility, and had been quietly studying the problem and com- 
paring the conditions here as well as elsewhere, sketches of plans had been 
made and studied by different members. A committee on place was chosen 
consisting of Dr. W. P. Bowers, Dr. G. M. Morse, Rev. J. C. Duncan, 
George W. Weeks and Rev. T. L. Fisher. 

Architect Gurdon T. Fisher presented plans, also G. W. Weeks, but 
it was concluded that the convenient and beautiful sketch by our towns- 
man would involve a cost larger than the trustees were willing to accept. 

On June 7, 1892, the final plans were adopted and the trustees were 
instructed to proceed to build. The trustees elected Dr. G. M. Morse, E. 



Early History of Clinton Hospital 93 

S. Fuller and Dr. W. P. Bowers a building committee, and Messrs. Geo. 
W. Weeks, Edw. L. Greene and Rev. T. L. Fisher a commitiee on plumb- 
ing. These committees contracted with Horace H. Lowe for the building, 
and J. B. Farnsworth for the plumbing and heating. The work was begun 
in August, 1892, and the building was opened to the public for inspection 
May 6, 1893, and on May 8, the patients were transferred from the Lau- 
rel street hospital to the new building. 

Reference was made by Dr. Bowers to the generous contributions by 
the wealthy residents of Lancaster and to the interest in the enterprise by 
all classes, by social clubs of little boys and girls up to the larger religious 
and fraternal bodies in town ; also to the earnest and successful labors of 
the soliciting committee. Miss Gertrude Vickery being the first chairman, 
and later Miss Esther Morse. The committee secured pledges for the new 
building to the amount of -$6,151.49, Other sums given brought up the 
total to $7,611.69, and $1,454.64 were paid from a series of entertain- 
ments, with goodly amounts from various religious and fraternal organiza- 
tions, "which must receive mention by some future historian." 



Phases in the Evolution of Clinton's 
Greatest Industry 



NEIL WALKER— March 9, 1903 



Mr. Walker commenced his remarks by a reference to the manufac- 
turing conditions one hundred years ago. In 1790 the first cotton mill 
was built in Pawtucket, R. I., with the Arkwright principle of machinery, 
by Samuel Slater. The first spinning machine contained twenty-four 
spindles, and on the throstle principle. Cotton manufactures continued 
to spread from that time until the war of 1812. In that year there were 
in Rhode Island thirty-three cotton factories containing 30,663 spindles. 
In Massachusetts there were twenty mills with 17,371 spindles. In pass- 
ing, we note that there are today in the Lancaster Mills 82,752 spindles — 
the fifty-three mills of the early period having 34,718 less number of 
spindles than our present Lancaster Mills. At that time England was 
the chief manufacturing country of the world, and naturally enough our 
young nation had little use for commercial dealings with a country with 
which it had recently been at war. Edward Everett Hale names four men 
who, as he says, had a larger part in increasing the material prosperity of 
this country than all the statesmen and politicians of that time. These 
four were : Napoleon Bonaparte, who offered to the United States all the 
territory between the west bank of the Missisippi River and top of the 
Rocky Mountains ; Robert R. Livingston, who accepted the offer without 
waiting to hear from our government ; Eli Whitney, a native of Westboro, 
who, going south as a tutor, invented the cotton gin, by which five thousand 
pounds of cotton were cleaned of seed in a day, against five pounds per 
day by hand of one person ; and Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steam- 
boat which made its first trip on the Hudson River. Dr. Hale thus speaks 
of these series of Events: ''Given now these four miracles : First, the 
appearance of cotton ; second, the doubling of the territory of America ; 
third, the development of steam, especially in the commerce of the great 
rivers of the American continent ; and fourth, the navigation which made 
the United States for twenty years the great carrying power of the world. 
Given these four series of events and in their history you know why the 
insignificant confederation became a nation, hopeful in its arts, not insig- 
nificant in its arms, and honored throughout the world in its commerce." 



Phases of the Evolution of Clinton's Greatest Industry 95 

In this town E. B. Bigelow did for the weaving industry of his time 
what Eli Whitney did for the raw cotton industry of an earlier period. 
Many changes have taken place in the gingham industry since the Bigelows 
built the Lancaster Mills upon the north bank of the Nashua River as it 
wound its way through the hamlet of Clinton\alle, a part of the old town 
of Lancaster. Passing over the building of the mill and the installation 
of its four hundred looms and the necessary preparatory machinery, such 
as carding, spinning, etc., we find that in 1846 everything had been done 
for a beginning in the manufacture of ginghams. An old D. H. time 
book shows the names of Donald Cameron and two workmen in the color- 
ing department, the first record being Jan. 1, 1846. This would indicate 
that weaving began some time after this date, but no large amount of cloth 
was made for some time, as another old record book in the coloring depart- 
ment shows that the number of pounds of yarn dyed for the year 1846 was 
27,316; in the following year, 94,890; in 1848, 221,035; in 1849, 
363,500; in 1850, 542,760. 

In 1853, 5,000,000 yards of cloth were made. A study of this old 
record shows us that for a period of ten years following 18.53 there was no 
increase in production, and in three of those years there was an actual 
falling off ; these years were those of the Civil War, when the Lancaster 
Mills shared in common with the majority of the cotton mills of the country 
in the depressing conditions which obtained. In 1864 the amount of yarn 
dyed was 642,000 pounds, and in 1868, 1,208,000 pounds were sent 
through the dye house. In 1880 the number of looms had increased from 
1600 to 3400, and this is practically said to be the largest in the world 
exclusively engaged in the manufacture of ginghams. 

The period of greatest expansion for Lancaster Mills was during the 
time between 1878 and 1893. In this time the number of looms increased 
from 1600 to 3500, and this is practically the number at work at the 
present time. 

It has been said that in order to keep fully abreast of the times it is 
necessary to consign the greater part of a mill's machinery to the scrap 
heap once in ten years. This may not be literally true, but the statement 
contains a large element of truth. When a carding engine appears on the 
market with a capacity for producing fifty or sixty per cent, more work in 
the same time and yet does not occupy much more floor space, it is time 
to give up the old machine, although not worn out ; the same holds true 
of the loom. Twenty years ago the looms at the Lancaster Mills were 
running at a speed of 100-110 picks per minute ; today the newer, im- 
proved loom is running at 160-172 picks. It can be readily seen that it 
is not an economical measure to keep the old looms even if they are not 
worn out. 

We have said that in 1853, 5,000,000 yards of cloth were produced. 
Fifty years later this mill can turn out about 45,000,000 yards of ging- 
hams, but among other changes which the years have wrought is this one : 
Lancaster Mills is no longer given over to the making of ginghams. 

Twenty years ago the great market for Lancaster Mills product was 
west of the Mississippi River, Ten years ago the writer saw in a whole- 



96 Phases of the Evolution of Clinton's Greatest Industry 

sale dry goods house in Duluth, Minn., a larger number of pieces of Lan- 
caster Mills goods, than he would have found in all the leading Boston 
shops put together. With the coming in of the " shirt waist era" and the 
use of colored shirtings for men, a great demand for this class of goods 
sprang up, and these mills prepared to meet it. Until within fifteen years 
but one count of yarn was used ; gradually finer grades of goods have been 
placed upon the market. Mercerized yarns, those yarns which by chem- 
ical and mechanical treatment combined quite a lustre, closely imitating 
silk, have found a place in the goods now made at the Lancaster Mills, 
and New England is once more a consumer of its products. 

In its beginning the power furnished by the flow of the south branch 
of the Nashua River sutliced for the needs of Lancaster Mills, but the 
infant industry soon outgrew the 600-horsepower which the stream fur- 
nished, and it became necessary to use steam. First one, then another 
steam engine was added, until five were used. 

When it was decided that the south branch of the Nashua must be 
taken to supply the needs of Boston and vicinity, a new method was 
adopted for the production and transmission of power. A plant was estab- 
lished consisting of a power-house, a battery of modern steam boilers and 
two Corliss engines whose combined horse-power is something over four 
thousand. In connection with these engines are generators for the pur- 
pose of transforming steam power into electrical energy, which is con- 
veyed through coils of copper wire to motors of from 50 to 250 horse- 
power each, conveniently situated for the work to be done. Lancaster 
Mills was the first large manufacturing concern in New England to adopt 
this method of transmitting power. 

Among the changes which have come with the years may be men- 
tioned those in connection with the transportation facilities of the earlier 
times in the history of Lancaster Mills and the present. Doubtless some 
of the older members of this society remember the mule teams that were 
first employed in hauling the cotton and other supplies from the station to 
the mills, and on their return taking loads of cases of ginghams on their 
way to the selling agents in Boston and New York. The writer well re- 
members the interest with which he watched Mike Ryan and his tandem 
team, 'way back in the early '60s, on his way to and from the station. 

This method of transportation was continued until a branch road was 
built from a point east of High Bridge, or what was then known as the 
Old Colony R. R., into the Lancaster Mills yard. Since that time all 
goods have been shipped directly from the mill to the wholesale buyer in 
Chicago, St. Louis, St. Paul, Duluth, and other points of distribution. 
Cotton, coal, and other supphes are brought in over the same road. The 
importance of this change from mule and horse teams to steam railway 
will be made very clear when we are told that the weight of two items of 
freight — coal and cotton — received at the mills amount to about 19,000 
tons ; add to this the outgoing finished goods, the various items like drugs, 
dyestuflfs, soap, starch, lumber and the thousand and one things required 
in such a mill, not to mention machinery, and we have a grand total which 
would require a large number of teams and men to move. 



HISTORY OF CHAPEL HILL SCHOOL 



WELLINGTON E. PARKHURST— June 18, 1903 



Ever since the day when : 

"The souadiug aisles of the dim woods rang 
With the anthem of the free," 

the school-house has been the rock to which our ship of state and our social 
fabric has been anchored. Through its portals, year after year, and cen- 
tury after century, the youth of our land have passed in an endless pro- 
cession ; numerous inspired pedagogic architects have sketched plans and 
laid corner stones for chai-acter edifices which have later developed fair 
proportions and enduring material. Herein hopes have been conceived 
and resolutions born which have determined successful careers. No scholar 
has enjoyed the privileges of the schoolroom, whether an original genius 
or an advertised simpleton, who found himself or herself proof against the 
magnetism of an idea pertinently and persistently suggested from an au- 
thoritative source ; and the students of five talents have had equal coaching 
in the educational race with those who were the possessors of ten. Like 
a beacon light on a treacherous coast the school-house has guided the voy- 
ager toward a safe haven. Teachers may come and teachers may go, 
pupils may enlist in the primaries and graduate from the universities, but 
the school-house goes on forever — efficient in present service and proficient 
in retrospective enjoyments — well illustrating in its history ' 'The pleasures 
of Hope and Memory." 

On the front cover of the old Webster spelling-book which was a text- 
book on the desks of the pupils of fifty and seventy-five years ago, and 
from which they not only learned to spell but also to compass the rules of 
punctuation, with columns of definitions and abbre\'iations, as also the 
names of the vowels — "a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y" — there was 
a picture more attractive to youthful eyes than any paintings from the 
brush of a Rembrandt or a Rubens shown in modern galleries a repre- 
sentation of a youth climbing a steep hill upon the summit of which was 
located the "Temple of Science." In the olden time it was the custom to 
locate the village church on a hill that the presence of aboriginal foes 
might be more readily detected as the people gathered for worship with 
each return of the Sabbath day — and thus the church spire indicated from 



98 History of Chapel Hill School 

afar the site of the church ; and the little village of Clintonville, in the 
"South Woods," and later known as '^District No. 10," had its temple — 
its educational temple, on the hill — on "Chapel Hill." 

Fifty years ago, on the site now covered by the Fyfe business block 
on Main street in Ihis town, and easterly of the first little railroad depot 
where Alfred Knight, station agent — Edwin Bynner's sub — kept the office 
and won the good ophiion of the school children, and near the junction of 
the present Main and Sterling streets — there was a low, round, green hill, 
adorned by a grove of white oaks, the plenteous fruit of which the boys 
used as missiles in their mimic wars. Rude seats were constructed in the 
shade of the spreading branches, and it was a coveted privilege to take 
school-books to improvised benches where were afforded opportunities to 
study — or gossip — by the hour; but we are told that the favor was rarely 
abused, the children haviug early learned the lessons of honor and self 
control. On the grounds in rear of the school-house was a high pole on 
which was a revolving wheel furnished with pendant ropes ; and the boys 
counted it rare sport to grasp the end of these ropes and '•'swing around the 
ciicle." This artistic device was made by Henry Morgan, a bright scholar, 
and later developing musical genius, who in hours devoted to the making 
of mechanical experiments thus illustrated his talents for improvising 
methods of recreation. Southerly of the "hill" and about where are to- 
day the main tracks of the N. Y., N. H. & H. railroad, was the boys' 
playground. In those early days the opportunities for quenching thirst in 
that section were not as numerous and as varied as they are today, and at 
recess the boys rushed like a flock of sheep across to the residence of 
Joshua Thissell, a short distance to the south, after "water to drink," and 
with less decorum than was always agreeable to the owner of the well. 

This historic school-house was constructed of wood and painted a 
somewhat somber brown, a prevailing color of buildings in this vicinity at 
that date. It ended and faced toward the street, easterly. It had two 
doors in the front, each leading into a small ante-room, one for the boys 
and one for the girls ; there were windows upon the south and north sides 
of the house, with green blinds. 

The little "primaries" were accommodated with seats in the front 
row. The platform, on which was the teacher's desk, was at the west, or 
rear end, of the room ; there were four rows of double seats, accommo- 
dating forty scholars — two rows for the lads and two for the misses, the lads 
being on the south and the misses on the north side of the building. There 
were blackboards on the four walls which were constantly in use in recita- 
tions in arithmetic, geography and grammar, and in spelling exercises. In 
the summer the esthetic tastes of the school were evidenced in floral deco- 
rations and in the winter by evergreens. 

In the front of the school-house, on the opposite of the county road — 
for there were no "avenues" or "boulevards" in those days — there was 
another mound of about equal height, located near where the Keyes wagon 
shop now stands, and known to geographical students as "Grace Hill." 
The scholars found no trouble in scrambling up the hill from any direction ; 
but upon the northerly side there was a flight of steps with dangerous 



Sistoiy of Chapel Hill School 99 

cracks in the flooring, down one of which a certain New York clergyman 
remembers to this day having lost a silver coin — a serious financial em- 
barrassment. On the summit of this hill was a flagstaff, up which the boys 
were accustomed to climb for the double purpose of getting exercise and 
of winning the admiration of the lassies. The swing and the flagstaff 
completed the inventory of their gymnastic apparatus. Not far distant, 
on the east side of the road and near the Counterpane Pond, was a "ball 
alley," run by Eben S. Henery ; later, the building was converted into a 
house. 

On Sundays the school-house was used for public worship — originally 
by the Congregationalists ; hence its name, "chapel." It was thus occu- 
pied by this denomination until it built a new church on Walnut street, an 
edifice some times called the "Lord's barn," being destitute of any spire 
and plain in its architectural design. When the Congregationalists left 
the chapel the Baptists occupied it two years, until they built a church 
edifice, also on Walnut street. 

Among the names of the families which attended the services held on 
Sunday in the chapel were the following : Houghton, Rice, Oibbs, Jew- 
ett, McCollom, Greene. Patterson, Worcester, Merrifield, Orr, Wyers, 
Sawyer, Harris, Burditt, including "Uncle John Burditt," who was tinged 
with Adventist views, and once on a time complimented the pastor. Rev. 
Eaton, by remarking to him: "I think you preach the gospel — in the 
main." 

The venerable ex-pastor, Rev. J. M. R. Eaton, survives most of his 
successors in the Congregational church, and writes us from his distant 
home in Redlands, California, that he thinks the pulpit in the chapel was 
a gift from the Calvinistic Church of Fitchburg. At the date of the dedi- 
cation the sermon was preached by Rev. Hope Brown of Fitchburg ; the 
singing was led by the late Dea. Caleb K. Sawyer, and was of a high or- 
der for those early times. Carter Wilder played the violin or a bass viol, 
and his son, George C. Wilder, now living in Kansas, remembers that 
when three years of age he accompanied his father when the latter was a 
member of the village choir. 

A lady residing in another part of Ihis county states that at the age 
of eight years she attended church in the chapel, but cannot remember 
whether the attraction was the "free seat system" or the originulity and 
eloquence of the j^outhful preacher. Rev. C. M. Bowers, who was present 
and conducted the service ever}' Sunday. She adds that a remark made 
in the course of the delivery of one sermon stamped itself upon her child- 
ish memory. In speaking from the text, "Boast not thvself of tomorrow," 
etc., and discoursing upon the uncertainty of life and earthly plans, she 
understood that he anticipated a premature death when, as he laid his hand 
upon his heart, he exclaimed. "The seeds of mortal disease are already 
planted here ;" And she farther says: "I have rejoiced that in fifty-five 
years that harvest has not been gathered." 

The chapel was first occupied as a school-house, with Miss Adelphia 
Rugg as the teacher. 

For four years — from 1847 to 1851 — the school had its highest degree 



100 History of Chapel Hill School 

of success under George N. Bigelow, a native of Paxton, who was assisted 
for a time by his brother, Artemas E. Bigelow, now a resident of Paxton. 
After two years of rest, in 1853, Principal Bigelow went to Europe, but 
he did not forget his pupils, many of whom received interesting letters 
from him while he was abroad. He was subsequently and for several 
years the principal of the State Normal School in Framingham ; from 
Framiugham he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he took charge of the 
Atheneum Seminary, a school for young ladies. On June 29, 1883, he 
made his last visit to Clinton, giving the address at a reunion of the high 
school alumni. He died in Brooklyn, August 28, 1887, at the age of 64. 

Of George N. Bigelow all his surviving pupils speak in terms of high- 
est praise. We quote from a few who verbally or by pen have given us 
their impression of him as an instructor and friend : 

A letter from one of his scholars, now in Paris, says : "He was the 
prince of instructors, an enthusiast in his profession, and as he had ac- 
quired ample control of himself, he had little trouble in controlling the 
rather turbulent element constituting the male portion of his school ; he 
was a fine elocutionist and frequently drilled the whole school in reading, 
both ' in concert' and individually. I can now repeat pages, both of prose 
and poetry, which were drilled into me at this period. I don't think he 
was a particularl}^ good mathematician, at least my impression at that time 
was that some of the 'miscellaneous questions' in the back pan, of Green- 
leaf's arithmetic bothered him a little ; but perhaps the impression was due 
to the fact that they bothered us a good deal. I can see Mr. Bigelow now, 
with his earnest face, standing at the blackboard on the girls' side, illus- 
trating with diagram that absurd problem of the grindstone from which 
four proprietors agree to grind off their respective portions, successively. 
His illustrations of the mystery of square and cube root, by means of 
blocks, are still fresh in my memory." 

A present prominent resident of Bolton writes : "Mr. Bigelow was 
the beau ideal of a school-master, active and painstaking, not only impart- 
ing knowledge to his pupils but also good manners. The discipline which 
he maintained over his pupils, not only in the school-room but in society, 
strongly conti'asts with that maintained toda}'. Well do I remember being 
in Clinton Hall when a banner was presented to the Sons of Temperance 
by Miss Hoadley, in behalf of the citizens of the town, when, detecting by 
his vigilant eye that many boys were chewing gum, he immediately stopped 
the proceedings long enough to give a rebuke, reading us a lecture on good 
manners the next day in the school-room." 

Another remarks : "Whenever he made a rule he insisted upon obe- 
dience by old as well as young." 

A lady who has long had her home in Kansas, whose father was a very 
prominent citizen in the early history of this village, writes as follows ; 
"Mr. Bigelow understood better than any one I ever knew how to arouse 
an enthusiastic passion for learning, and then how to guide it so as to at- 
tain the best results. We were taught how to study; a love for classic 
literature was thoroughly instilled and I often recall, even now, passages 
from Addison, Shakespeare, Bryant, etc. The school became exceedingly 



History of Chapel Hill School 101 

popular and many students from adjoining towns were glad to avail them- 
selves of the superior advantages offered. Frank Russell gave a series of 
lectures on elocution before the school and an intense interest was awak- 
ened in what was then a new branch of study. Mr. Bigelow became thor- 
oughly conversant with Mr. Russell's methods, and continued our study 
and practice ; we often stayed a half hour or more after school to read and 
recite, so great was our interest." 

Another : "He successfully taught the young idea how to shoot," his 
pupils wondering "how one small head could carry all he knew." 

And another ; "We all liked him very much as a teacher and as a true 
gentleman." 

Henry Chamberlain was one of the nervous boys who could not sit 
still, and was full to the brim with mischief, and therefore was continually 
under reprimand by the teacher ; but he once remarked to a friend : "Mr. 
Bigelow scolds me but he loves me" — an idea which might be amplified in 
illustration of the teacher's heart and methods. 

These tributes to Master Bigelow's success as a teacher, coming to us 
from both continents and from various homes between the Atlantic and 
Pacific shores, a half century after he had closed his work in Clinton, dem- 
onstrate the ability which by tact and conscience, an instructor possesses 
to mold the character of his pupils. More enduring is a memorial in the 
hearts and memory of the survivors of the youthful band which once gath- 
ered on Chapel Hill, than granite shaft, for a good word or a kind deed 
radiates from its point of departure as the tossing of the pebble which dis- 
turbs the pool tells of its presence in successive and far-reaching waves. 
It is a matter of great doubt if there is a single scholar who then cared to 
acquire knowledge, or failing at that time to appreciate his or her advan- 
tages, does not now justly estimate the earnest efforts of Mr. Bigelow to 
lay foundations for a service which should prove a success and a blessing 
to others long after the teacher had passed away, even to the sunset hours 
of life. 



Samuel W. Boardman followed Mr. Bigelow in charge of the school — 
a teacher of whom most of his pupils have pleasant memories. It is ^aid 
he was less exacting as respects studies, and less rigid in the matter of 
discipline; he was a native of Troy, Vt., a graduate of Middlebury Col- 
lege and later of Andover Theological Seminary. On one occasion he 
preached in the Congregational Church, and as good a judge of the quality 
of sermonizing as the late Daniel W. Kilburn, who in his last years was 
a lay preacher, said, "I never listened to a finer sermon." As a school- 
master, he commanded the respect of all his scholars who came thither to 
learn, and they appreciated his earnest efforts in their behalf. It is re- 
lated that on one morning as he approached the school-house a fierce snow- 
ball battle was raging and he came within range of the cold hard shot ; but 
as the ball struck him in the back he was fortunately unable to recognize 
the wide-awake offender and was spared the duty of inflicting any punish- 
ment as a penalty for trespassing upon his dignity. His scholars were 
numbered as in a jail or mine, and when he wished to call for any one he 



102 History of Chapel Hill School 

would specify 20, 25, or 35, or whatever number was borne by the pupil. 
If he desired to reprove any of his flock for misdemeanors, he would tell 
them in a quiet way, "I will take a little walk with you after school ;" but 
whether he adopted this method of interviewing his young lady pupils his- 
tory does not state. Mr. Boardman remained but one term. 

Mr. Boardman rarely lost control of himself or of his school, even in 
those trying conditions which under a cloudy sky and east wind will occa- 
sionally pervade every school-room and annoy every teacher, whatever his 
or her temperament, and the story goes that on one day, sorely vexed by 
the unruly deportment of his school, he ventured the remark : "I supposed 
I came here to teach ladies and gentlemen, but I And I was mistaken." 
The infrequency of the necessity of so sharp a rebuke is satisfactory evi- 
dence of the orderly reputation of the pupils. 

The next teacher was Charles W. Walker of Southboro, whose dras- 
tic methods of discipline satisfied his pupils that he fully believed that a 
sparing of the rod was quite too likely to spoil the child, for he kept a 
good stock of birch rods in his desk, while in the right hand drawer of that 
essential piece of school furniture he carefully stored a "teachei''s strap." 
made for his use from harness leather, by Deacon William Stearns. Un- 
doubtedly — as is frequently the case — his social standing in town was 
enhanced by the fact that his wife was a "brilliant woman" — such being 
the conclusion in all the village sewing circles, when the fact leaked out 
that she "wrote stories for tbe newspapers." At the Fourth of July cele- 
bration dinner in '53, served in Horatio N. Bigelow's grove, which then 
covered the land which is now the upper section of Church street, she read 
an "original poem," which Edwin Bynner, the editor of the Courant, 
dared to say he could not have written or at least did not write without 
aid. The poem was entitled "The Voice of Whigs and Democrats vs. The 
Voice of Free Soilers." As the local political machine was then being 
fired and run by "fossilized hunkers," and as the anti-slaver}' sentiment 
was too feeble in this communit}^ to appreciate this mt'trical attempt to 
harrow the feelings of the old line politicians, the result was a sharp con- 
troversy in print. In his school Mr. Walker was the victim of many boy- 
ish pranks. The bell was tinkered so that when he lifted it to ring after 
recess the bell and its handle parted company, the pupils who were watch- 
ing to observe the result of the game expressing their emotions in a general 
and merry laugh. Another trick was cutting the disciplinary rods nearly 
apart so that when applied to an olTender they went into fragments ; at 
nnoiher time the chimney was filled with stove wood; and still another 
exploit was the tossing of a stick of wood into the chimney. Those were 
the days when Dr. Preston Chamberlain was a visiting committeeman who 
not only examined the work of the scholars but also the aforesaid teacher's 
strap. Mr. Walker's home was on the Rigby road, and he was the last of 
the chapel teachers ; he made vigorous efforts to get the principalship of 
the new building, on corner of Walnut and Church streets, but the prize 
was carried away by Josiah S. Phillips of Leominster. 

It is reported that a lad who attended Mr. Walker's school and now 
holds a high legal position in Washington, D. C, one day getting a sharp 



History of Chapel Hill School 103 

taste of the "strap," a sympathizing miss, who has also since held posi- 
tions of wide influence in a western state, witnessing the castigation suf- 
fered great excitement over the scene, begging the master to stop the 
severe punishment. But her pleadings were without avail. 

One day while Mr. Walker was in the aisle talking with one of his 
pupils his dress-coat-tail was cleverly scissored ; it is said, on good 
authority, that this subtraction of broadcloth was made by a pair of shears 
which had been the property of Marion Olcott ; however that may have 
been, none at this late date can question the propriety of obtaining some 
tangible souvenir of so distinguished a preceptor. 

We are not aware of Mr. Walker's career after leaving Clinton, M. 
J. McQuade of Oak street states that at a later date he met his former 
teacher in Washington, D. C, He writes : "He did not know me, but 1 
made myself known to him ; I think he was then chaplain of an Indiana 
regiment," 

Perhaps no better view of those school days, and of individul pupils, 
can be had than is afforded in a letter written us by a lady now residiag 
in the far West, who, as a worker in religious and literary circles, has en- 
joyed a very successful career ; we feel confident that in view of the lapse 
of half a century since the occurrence of the events to which she refers, all 
the friends to whom she makes a kindly allusion will enjoy her reminis- 
cences and understand them in the light of earlier days. Therefore we 
transcribe : 

"I was ten years old when I commenced going to school at the chapel, 
having been sent back and forth, like a ping-pong ball, between the high 
and second schools. 

"In my library among French Ollendorffs and Latin readers, is a 
First Class Reader, which has a poem, 'Friendsh p's Wish,' written on a 
blank leaf by Helen Greenough ; she was my seat mate and pushed me off 
my seat because I began missionary work by telling her, at her own re- 
quest, some of her faults. We wanted to become saints and were to help 
each other ; unfortunately I consented to begin with her faults and get her 
ready for the aureole; so I said, 'You would be much nicer if you were 
not so quick-tempered.' I never went any farther in preparing her for 
sainthood, and I never knew what she considered my besetting sin, for she 
was so disturbed that she didn't speak to me for a week. 

' 'It seems now as though we had beautiful entertainments at the chapel 
one evening each week. Somebody read 'The Wide, Wide World' to us. 
We had dialogues and debates. In one dialogue I was the daughter of 
some woman who took me to a teacher to urge that I be allowed to study 
French and music, as I didn't need no grammar ! 

"Urania Ingalls was on the back seat among the young women of the 
school. Some other young woman always walked away from school with 
her, both with big books on their arms. With what awe I gazed upon so 
much knowledge. There was also Fannie M. Sawyer and Mary Frank 
McCollom. As I think of these pupils the thought is like the faint odor 
of rosemary and sweet violets. 



104 History of Chapel Hill School 

"A few years aoo the latter (INIrs. Simpson) was at a social function 
at my home. One of my friends looked at the sweet, dainty little woman 
and asked what kind of a child 1 was m school. I awaited the answer 
with fear and trembling. 'She was one of our brightest little girls,' said 
Mrs. S. The friends looked at me with my coming gray hair and the 
crow's-feet beside my eyes and laughed as they tried to see that far away 
'Httle girl.' 

"In my attic is an old portfolio — the same I used when a school girl — 
in which are cards, invitations, notes, 'poems' written by the school-mates 
of that far-off time : among others a poem by 'Ben Cotton,' but that must 
have been later than chapel days for Dr. Parkhurst of New York, who then 
sat across the aisle from me, helped me to get it on its 'feet.' And here 
is a little square hollow tube which some boy gave me — I am sorry I can't 
remember who — which I used for the purpose of enclosing the forbidden 
'note.' I remember a song we used lo sing for the comfort (?) of the 
geometry class, while the school sang 'Araby's Daughter.' 

( We may here interjjolate the suggestion that whatever tlie name of 
that "song," it was doubtless appropriate. Nothing so thoroughly im- 
presses a listening or participating audience as appropriateness in the ren- 
dering of a vocal srlection. We personally recall bein<j; in attendance at 
a wedding in a church on an Illinois prairie, some yeai's ago. The audi- 
ence was patiently awaiting the arrival of the bridal party with no oppor- 
tunity to hear chaiming strains from Lohengrin ; fifteen minutes passed 
and no arrival; a half hour went, but still no "couple," with attendants, 
was seen, and we waited and waited until in an agony of desperation some 
one struck up that old hymn commencing, ' 'How tedious and tasteless the 
hour" and tint speedily brought in the groom and the bride; but to re- 
sume from the letter in h:tnd) : 

"I wish I could forget the fact that Sarnh Otterson borrowed my 
new and handsome 'Kiss me Quick' to wear when she and Hattie Cham- 
berlain went somewhere to ask Anna Green to a party to which Sarah did 
not invite me at all ! All 1 remember about her was this borrowing of my 
things and not then giving me an invitation. Perhaps, in the language of 
today. 1 'didn't belong in that crowd.' and was only a 'kid.' 

"Clara Forbes came to the chapel school — a good student, and in the 
same class with me. I have yet one note from Mary Pease, a good girl, 
who afterwards lived in Worcester. Sue P'leming was one of the older 
girls, whom I thought very brght. A boy named McCurdy was always 
kind to me and gave me the first 'compliment' 1 ever had ; if 1 remember 
rightly I did not receive it very graciously. 

"Now I'll close this old portfolio. Perhaps in the other world stu- 
dents from the chipel building will be only across the golden streets from 
each other. 1 am so glad there is room in Paradise for all." 

If the history of the school on Chapel Hill could b' fully written there 
would appt ar sundry interesting incidents which served to enliven the 
sometimes monotonous exi)eriences of school life, but many of these inci- 
dents have faded from the memory of the pupils — who are now mostly and 



History of Chapel Hill School 105 

inevitably "old folks :" but a few acts have survived the intervening half 
century and the actors have become so sedate and so aged, and are so 
widely scattered that it may be safe for the writer to put on record certain 
interesting facts, and equally safe for readers to see themselves in print. 

One day Charles Stanley was vainly trying to recite an exercise, Mr. 
Bigelow being somewhat busy with another scholar ; at length, noticing 
the delay in the recitation, the master encouraged his advance in the famil- 
iar quotation, "On, Stanley, on" — which npt suggestion broke the ice and 
the student went "on" with no more difficulty. 

Another day, during a recitation in philosophy in which a problem 
was under discussion relative to a cylinder, Mr. Bigelow accidentally con- 
founded in his explanation the "cylinder" in question with the name of the 
Celinda (Gates) who was reciting, and in such a way that the accidental 
pun immensely amused everybody in the house. 

One of the feminine pupils thus writes of Charles A. Otterson, who 
was in a class by himself :"He was a three-story wonder to me ; I always 
suspected something wonderful would come when he recited, and so I 
watched and listened whenever he came to make any demonstrations and 
diagrams in the big pi'oblems in Greenleaf's arithmetic." 

Among the scholars in attendance was one Tom Sawyer a "jumper." 
At one time during recess, spurred on by his associates, he essayed to 
jump the brook near the foot of Church street, but landed in the middle of 
the stream ; vowing that he would continue the attempt mitil success 
crowned his athletic efforts, he made several successive jumps, but every 
time with the same damp result, and cold baths were all that he enjoyed 
in the way of reward for his herculean efforts to span the stream. 

Henry Bowman was a leader in various martial sports ; if there was 
to be any war, or a chieftain was wanted for an Indian tribe, Henry was 
always on hand, as if in anticipation of the time when he should meet the 
foe in battle array. 

Daniel A. White won the title of philosopher from his associates from 
the fact that he was unceasingly diving into the whys and wherefores of 
the lever, screw, pulley, etc. 

Henry N . Otterson usually had the attention of his fellow pupils when 
they should have been studying their lessons — by cyphering with his left 
hand while his figuring always came out right. One of his colleagues 
writes of him : "I remember his recitations in algebra." 

Two of the reliable boys were Charles F. Greene and George A. Dor- 
rison, who attracted the attention and admiration of the neighboring young 
pupils because they were forever doing sums on their slates — a new arrange- 
ment and a substitute for the blackboard. 

Samuel Myrick Bowman was a wide-awake youth who, once on a time, 
escaped a correction for some misdemeanor by making for the outer door 
before Mr. Bigelow could divine his pur|)Ose ; the master followed him and 
round and round the building they went, very like the hound after the fox ; 
the chase led down the hill and when the race was at its sublimest point 
Bowman dropped and allowed Mr. Bigelow to go over him, the master sus- 
taining no injury beyound a serious rent in his trousers which much aided 
ventilation. 



106 History of Chapel Hill School 

Angus Cameron was the wit of the school and always "in it" — never 
on the outside of any fun ; his companions always heard him declaim in 
full preparation for a smile for which they usually had a use before the 
recitation was ended. One day Angus, with other bright boys of his class 
asked to be excused from school duties that they might go a-fishing, but 
was refused. The next morning when the scholars, in accordance with 
Mr. Bigelow's requirements, repeated some scriptural verses. Angus, with 
possibly a challenge in his eye, repeated : "Simon Peter saith unto them I 
go a-fishing." Mr. Bigelow started for him and both went out of doors 
with no delay, and not long after both returned to the school-room evi- 
dently somewhat "winded" by their hurried excursion, but the deta Is of 
the trip have not gone on the record. 

Frank Felt was one of the pupils whose talent for writing ' -composi- 
tions" had not then so fully developed as it has in subsequent years; a 
private fact, confidentially relatpd, is that she did not at that primary 
period of her life, heartily enjoy this exercise ; for a longtime, in oneway 
and another she evaded the task until Mr. Bigelow instructed her to get 
some paper and proceed to write. She complied, and when it came her 
turn to read she arose with the following original essay : 

We have a school in town, 
Spoken of with "reat renown ; 
The chilrh'en go, both hi<jh and low. 
The teacher is George Bigelow. 

As none could question the facts included in this "composition" it 
was accepted and filed with the productions of her more prosaic colleagues. 

One morning, one of the boys in his reading, came across the well- 
remembered imperative exclamation, "Down, ruthless insulter." This 
proved a bit bothersome to the reader ; he hesitated, and at length the 
master helped him out with the correct rendering, but being slightly hard 
of hearing the pupil didn't "catch on." but did as good scholars do — the 
best he could — and bravely read, "Down, toothless saltcellar," and readily 
finished the paragraph. This misinterpretation once had its parallel in a 
school where ihe writer was present when a young man innocently read 
"oatmeal scenery" for "autumnal scenery." 

One of the vivacious scholars still lives in the memory of her associ- 
ates as the roguish miss who during the exercise of singing, materially 
assisted the master by beating time with her umbrella, especially during 
the rainy season. 

It is related of one of the very "steady" boys, who afterwards held 
honoi'able positions in the manufacturing industries of this town, that once 
on a time, by request of Master Walker, he cut a bundle of blackberry 
vines for disciplinary service, in lieu of birch twigs, and at a later period 
managed to get some of his neighbors into trouble in order to test the 
corrective qualities of the vine — a perfectly laudable proposition to a lad 
who was undei'stood to be always on the lookout for a chance to seek the 
greatest good of the greatest number. 

One of the youngest of the scholars in Mr. Bigelow's school was 



History of Chapel Hill ScJiool 107 

Mary Frank Stearns, who sat in the front row of seats and remembers but 
a single incident of school life in the chapel, viz : that she was kept after 
school several hours one Saturday afternoon to learn four lines of rhyme, 
but failing finally to accomplish the task, went home in a very sorrowful 
frame of mind. 

When Mr. Bigelow was engrossed with one of his favoi-ite classes he 
assigned to Alonzo Stone the duty of watching the clock and of announc- 
ing in a loud voice, as he always delighted to do, '-Recess time!" or 
"Twelve o'clock !" 

James Munroe Ingalls was reckoned as one of the "brighi boys," a 
born mathematician : he usually trudged to school with Cameron, both liv- 
ing in the easterly part of the village. A coi respondent says: "James 
Cameron was full of fun." 

The leader in all exhibitions by the scholars and a superior student in 
arithmetic, algebra and geometry, was George W. Weeks; a schoolmate 
speaks of him as an ever popular lad among his fellows, adding ; •'■He was 
a sort of Jupiter on Mt. Olympus." 

The school always had good singers, whose services gave a pleasing 
variety to the daily exercises ; many were the evenings spent in rehearsing 
songs and glees which were brought out in little exhibitions by the school 
or used to enliven sleighing parties and various festive eceasions. Many 
of the singers in the school belonged to the choir in the Congri'gati( >nal 
Church. 

Among those who took long daily walks to the school was Katherine 
Wilder, whose family lived near Clamshell Pond. She is now oflflciaily 
connected with the Brown Sanitarium in Barre ; an older sister, Mrs. Lee, 
resides in the same town. 

One of the older pupils of the school mentions two facts , ( 1 ) the 
pupils were generally inclined to drop their studies and watch the recita- 
tions of the various classes on the floor ; and (2)every amusing incident by 
general consent furnished the well improved opportunity for general merri- 
ment throughout the school-room — facts which have occasionally been ob- 
served in other schools. 

Three members of the Chapel Hill school sacrificed their lives for their 
country during the civil war, and tbeir names are carved upon the endunng 
granite of our soldiers' monument : Samuel Myiick Bowman of the o7th 
Massachusetts regiment, and Zadock Batterson and John Frazer, both of 
the 15th regiment. 

Five other members of the school survived the perils of the contest : 
Henry Bowman, Henry Greenwood and Walter Whittemoie— the latter in 
the navy — and all enlisting from the Courant office ; also Joseph E. Miner ; 
all these four have survived to present date ; James N. Johnson returned 
home, but has since died. 

One, James Munroe Ingalls, has distinguished himself, since the war, 
in the regular army, his works on ballistics having become authority on 
both sides of the Atlantic ; he has risen to the rank of captain and has 
been retired with honors and is at present sojourning with his family in 
Paris. 



108 History of Chapel Hill School 

One became a clergyman — James F. Powers. He took orders in the 
Episcopal Church, if we are not in error ; in any case, when last heard 
from he was pieaching in Philadelphia. 

One, John Ring, became a local poet, and there are a few copies left 
of his little volume, entitled 'New England Rhymes." 

Several of tlie band made their home in the far West — too far, we 
fear, to ever again visit "-the loved spots which their infancy knew." But 
they are not forgotten by the remnant who still keep guard in the town 
and commonwealth of their nativity. 

A Clinton boy who attended at the chapel and has since held high 
positions as an attorney in the capital of his country, writes : "The scenes 
of my boyhood and school days come back to me with very considerable 
vividness." And a gifted member of the school who retains very pleasant 
memories of Master Bigelow and his school, adds : '-The^e memories bring 
back old times, but the 'old times' never really come back — only the shadow 
of them." 

Before closing we should add that the frame of the old school-house 
still remains ; when its mission as a church chapel and school-house had 
ended it was moved one hundred rods to the south and located on the west 
side of Main street, being raised one story and another story finished off 
below, after which it was occupied as a double tenement house. A few 
years later, as the railroad business interests made demands for more ter- 
ritory in that section of the town, it was removed to Sterling stseet, and 
there it stands today a few rods west of the Boston & Maine railroad track, 
on the north side of the street, and known as the "Lyman house." 

NAMES OF SCHOLARS 

The following is a partial list of pupils who attended this school un- 
der either of the three masters to which leference is made above : 

Henry N. Bigelow, Daniel H. Bemis, Henry Bowman, S. Myrick 
Bowman, Zadock Batterson, Martha Browning (Hodgkins), Almira Brown 
(Cole), Angus Cameron, James F. Cameron, John F.Caldwell, James A. 
Colburn, Joseph Chamberlain, Henry Chamberlain, John B. Cotton, Sarah 
E. Colburn, Hattie Chamberlain (Colburn), Sarah C. Carter, Sarah Cross- 
man (Grover), Sarah A. Cobb, George A. Dorrison, George B. Duncan, 
Almira Diusmore (Goodnow), John Frazer, Charlotte Frances Felt (Wil- 
der), Frank Fleming (ChafHn), Susan Fleming (Pierce), Clara Forbes 
(Bigelow), Carrie Forbes (Francis), Charles F. Greene, Albion W. Gibbs, 
Henry Greenwood, Edson Gaylord, John W. Gallagher, Ira V. B. Green- 
ough, Helen Greenough (Noyes), Ellen Greene, Cehnda Gates, E. Vic- 
toria Gates (Morse), Henrietta Goodale (Boynton), Augusta Gaylord, 
Christopher Harris, Hattie Hoadley, Sarah E. Houghton, Sarah Houghton 
(Hastings), Mary Humphrey, Eliza Holman (Carter), Mary Jane Hough- 
ton, James Munroe Ingalls, Urania Ingalls (Davis), James N. Johnson, 
James Joslin, Mary Johnson (Wood), Joseph P. Kendall, George W. 
Lowe, Sarah Lewis, Charles H. Morgan, F. Henry Morgan, Joseph E. 
Miner, Michael J. McQuade, Wm. Augustus Macurda, Mary Frank McCol- 



History of Chapel Hill School 109 

lom (Simpson), Jennie Morgan (Wallace), Charlotte Miner (Barquet), 
Louisa Miner, Elizabeth McColIom (Lowe), Persis iMaynanl, Henrietta 
Miner (Kitsou), Chiirles A. Otter-on, Henry N. Otterson, Mary Otterson 
(Stubbs), Sarah Otterson (Burke). Marion Olcott, Henry A. Putnam, John 
Ring, Eneaud Riee, Laura A. Rino-, Addie Reeves ( Fuller), Hattie E. 
Rice, Sarah Hice, Ann Maria Rice, Charles Stanley, Alonzo Stone. Thomas 
Saw3'er, Fi'auces M. Sawyer, Sarah Sawyer (Gore), Ellen Stone (Hiee- 
man), Abbie Sampson, Wary Ei'ank Stearns (Morse), Agnes Sawyer 
(Uinslow), Fanny Stone (Spanlding), Emeline Thompson, Emily Thomp- 
son, Sarah J. Tenney, Mary Upson, George W. Wt^eks, Walter \\ hitte- 
more, Austin White, Laura ^^ hite (Pratt), Harriet Worcester, Lura 
Wright, Savira Wright ( Owens), Katherine Wilder, Miss S. E. Whit- 
comb, Mary Frank McC'ollom (Simpson). 



History of Clinton Baptist Church 



Rev. CHARLES M. BOWERS, D. D.— June 13, 1904 



At first it may seem as though the history of a church in a country 
town could hardly possess points of interest enough to make its story 
worthy of any permanent record. But if it is true, as asserted on good 
authority, that mere words are things, then things must be words with 
some high meaning in them and with a voice more or less loud according 
to the time and place of which they are a part. The growing custom of 
celebrating the centennial, semi-centennial, and in some cases the quarter- 
centennial years of churches shows that in serious and cultivated minds 
they rank among the valuable institutions that have relation to all human 
progress, domestic, social, educational and civil. A man without a 
meeting-house in him has no completed life and is only a fractional, un- 
finished kind of being. A steeple is a teacher, a public educator touching 
the history of humanity running back over a vast period of 2,000 years. 
When Emerson advised us to hitch our wagon to a star he might have 
suggested that we hitch it to a steeple. 

It has been chai-ged, however, that the churches of all kinds and 
names are partly failures and do not reach the ideals of their profession 
and constitution. Yet one thing is true : if they have not given men 
morally the height and breadth and glory they ought to have done, they 
certainly have accomplished unparalleled wonders for the world in archi- 
tecture, sculpture, painting, poetry, music and religious literature. Even 
heaven itself will be more attractive and delightful for some of the blessed 
old Enochs the church is populating it with. Why, even the Catholic 
church has some saints there now that almost take the shine off from arch- 
angels that have celebrated their millionth year of birth- creation. Yes, 
churches may not attain their ideal, but in this respect they are like the 
other institutions of divine appointment. God ordained national govern- 
ments, but there is not a perfect nation on earth, not one ; yet better the 
imperfection of all of them than no government at all, with anarchy in- 
stead. The family is of divine ordination, yet there are very few perfect 
homes where Mr. and Mrs. Adam continue in all things in the sugar of 
their courtship. But better the occasional vinegar and pepper with all lost 



History of Clinton Baptist Church 111 

than no home life of twain one flesh. Perhaps the churches do fail of their 
ideal, but many of them are half way there and steadily faced in that direc- 
tion 

Two grand things mark the church of today. First, its constant in- 
vention and adoption of new ways and methods of trying to lift the world 
up to a better life ; and, second, its cordial employment of the mind and 
heart of woman in all its benevolent undertakings. The ideal woman is 
coming and when she reaches her best, with her will come the ideal church. 
And now abide hospitals, clubs, lodges, colleges, libraries, schools and 
steeples, but the greatest of these is the steeple. There is only one world 
power to which Christ has given the earth — the church. "Go ye into all 
the world aud preach the gospel to every creature." 

Please pardon this introduction. As every man needs some certifi- 
cate of character if he belongs to the ministei'ial cloth, so every church 
needs the whitening of some apoli)getic presentation. 

The first movement ever made to establish Sabbath worship in the 
territory now named Clinton was begun in 1816, or eighty-eight years ago, 
and twenty-nine years before the inauguration of such an enterprise by our 
Orthodox brethren. The Baptist families in this part of old Lancaster 
have the credit of this gospel undertaking. A society was legally organ- 
ized under the name of the Baptist Society of Lancaster, to maintain ''the 
sentiments held by the Warren Association," which for many years had 
been in New England the largest associated body of the Baptist faith. 
The first meeting of this society was held March 16, 1816, in a school- 
house south of the Nashua River, when a constitution was adopted and 
parish oflScers were elected. Charles Chace was elected treasurer and 
John Burdett clerk. 

Preaching on the Sabbath was provided mainly from the supply pul- 
piteers, embracing both ordained and unordained ministers. The school- 
house was the place of worship when this convenience could be obtained, 
but more generally some little hall or the rooms in private houses were the 
necessai'y sanctuary. It must be confessed that some of the preachers of 
that day had more breaking out at the mouth than education, and more 
emphasis of doctrine than lucid exposition. One of the supplies engaged 
for a Sabbath a month during a given period was a watchmaker and jew- 
eller in Worcester. He had an eye to his secular as well as his heavenly 
calling on his gospel visits, and on Monday morning was accustomed to 
take back with him such watches of his hearers as needed the correction 
of their imperfections and various depravities. Thus he aided the people 
in keeping better time both for the present and the future. 

The records of the society show that the gospel was sometimes en- 
joyed at a very cheap i-ate, one of the items being given that one Joshua 
Eveleth received S2.50 a day for fourteen days of preaching. Yet no 
strike is ever mentioned for any increase of wages. It does not apppar 
that any formal church body was connected with this society, and when 
any converts were made under the very plain speaking of those days they 
joined the churches in Still River or West Boylston, or other near-by 
towns. The annual meetings of the society were usually held in the house 



112 History of Clinton Baptist Church 

of Charles Chace, aud from 1817 to 1829 there is no account of any such 
meeting elsewhere. 

Such records of this body as remain are valuable as showing what 
good and self-denying men like Charles Chace, Alansou Chace, Cornelius 
Moore, John Burditt, Levi Howard. Benjamin Holt and others of precious 
memory attempted to accomplish for their own and the religious profit of 
their neighbors, under circumstances of great difficulty. Some of the 
fruits of their work, however, remain to this day. Two causes occasioned 
the extinction of this society : first, the inability of the Baptists to raise 
suflicient funds to build a house of worship in this locality, though two or 
three efforts were made at different times for this object ; and secondly, 
the building of the Hillside church, popularly known as the Samson Wilder 
church. 

This enterprise, consummated in 1830, had for several years a most 
commanding influence in Lancaster and the circle of towns and villages 
around it. But strange to say, the Hillside church was partly of Baptist 
parentage. John Ballard, a Baptist living in Lancaster, was deeply ex- 
ercised on the fact that in all the region there was no evangelical house of 
worship. In the distress of his soul he went to Mr. Wilder one day to 
deplore his want of religious privileges, and most earnestly expressed his 
desire to see a meeting-house built and a church organized on the basis of 
the religion of the fathers. "How much," asked Mr. Wilder, "do you 
desire it?" "Very mnch indeed," was the reply. "Yes," came l)ack the 
question, with stronger emphasis, "but I would still ask how much you 
desii-eit?" "Ah. sir," said the Baptist Ballard, "1 understand you; I 
am a poor man and can do but little." "Well," added the deeply inter- 
ested Wilder, "I will make a proposition ; you may put down on this paper 
as many hundreds of dollars as you think proper and I will put down as 
many thou>.ands." "Will you?" exclaimed Ballard, rising and walking 
the room in great agitation. "Yes," said Wilder, "and in addition 1 will 
give you the choice of four or six acres out of my farm as a site." Ballard 
at once put his name to the paper for three hundred dollais — a large sum 
in those davs for a poor man to give to any object. 

When the house was completed by generous contributions from Bos- 
ton and other parts of the state, and with funds gathered m New York, it 
proved to be one of the most elegant and tasteful church edifices in New 
England. It was supplied with reading rooms and all conveniences for 
such as remained to the afternoon service. The tower had a costly clock 
with a fine toned bell of two thousand pounds of wide-awake orthodoxy in 
it, and the grounds about the building were provided with seats and charm- 
ing retreats for social and religious converse among families and friends 
in the sunnner Sabbaths of the year. One of the conveniences of the 
unique church was very original, a supply of Nicodemus seats, where 
a portion of the lecture room was curtained off and behind the curtain any 
might be concealed from recognition, who nevertheless were willing to hear 
what was said years before in the shadows of the night to the original of 
all the Nicodemuses. 

The church and the supply of distinguished preachers engaged by Mr. 



History of Clinton Baptist Church 113 

Wilder in the first months of the worship became the sensation of the counti-y 
for miles around. The elder Beecher, Kirk and Codmau of Boston, Milnor 
of New York, Woods, Stuart and Skinner of Andover, Hitchcock of 
Amherst, Cook, Todd, and many others among the great sermonizers of 
the day were heard with delight by crowded congregations. Revival 
meetings came at length to be a part of the effective work undertaken. 
At one of tlie last meetings held in the church the surprising number of 
three hundred persons signified upon invitation their desire, by rising from 
their seats, for prayer, and thus also expressed their purpose to seek and 
serve the Lord. This is a very great story, but at least half of it must be 
true, for it is published in a volume sent out into the world by the Ameri- 
can Tract Society. We are afraid, however, that the three hundred were 
not strictly obtained by dividing the house. 

When the church ceased its work so much had been accomplished by 
it in the adjacent towns and villages that several churches were organized 
of the Orthodox faith where there were none before. The very singular 
omission of Mr. Wilder to deed the property to some legally organized 
society made it a part of the wreck of his own property — when his great 
business operations resulted in disastrous failure. When the creditors sold 
the property the notable Sampson Wilder church became finally a factory 
for making champagne cider, and then after a few years of this profana- 
tion it properly ascended to the skies above in the form of victorious fire 
and smoke. 

Do you now ask what connection there can be between the work of 
the Hillside church and the existence of the present Baptist Church in 
Clinton ? 1 reply, much every way. Of the hundreds all over this section 
that were led into a religious hfe by the results of a fellowship purpose 
between a Baptist and an Orthodox believer of the Sampson Wilder type, 
some necessarily fell into Baptist ways of thinking and in their natural 
preference for a plenty of good water over any scanty supply of moisture 
became acceptable material for the composition of Baptist worship when 
re-established in due time. The due time came in January, 1847. A 
most favorable and almost amusing circumstance prepared the way. Our 
Congregationalist brothers-in-law and gospel were about to vacate the 
chapel where they had been holding worship for two years, and enter the 
large and commodious house they had just completed. 

As the village was growing and it was certain that another church of 
some kind would at once inaugurate worship, the question arose, ''To 
whom shall the use of the chapel be offered.?" The canvass of the sects 
as to which one would be likely to interfere the least with the growth and 
prosperity of the church already sure of the religious lead in the entire 
future resulted in the assignment of the building to the occupancy of the 
Baptist, as probably the least harmful in the premises of all the religious 
orders. This was good sense on the part of number one, and the Baptists 
never expect to reach the head of the class in Clinton, world without end, 
though we expect to be a close second in many things. 

The first Sunday in 1847 saw the Baptists begin their second experi- 
ment in maintaining worship in the village then called Clintonville. A 



114 History of Clinton Baptist Church 

society was organized with the usual officers to manage the financial con- 
ditions, which, however, was soon followed — April 24th — by the constitu- 
tion of a church under the name of "The First Baptist Church of Lancas- 
ter." Dr. George W. Burdett, who for so many years after his coming to 
town as a physician held high rank in his profession, was chosen clerk and 
in this office he continued until near the time of his death. Seventeen 
persons imited in fellowship and covenant as the first stage in this church 
life, more than half of whom bore the good name of Burditt. Of these 
original members only one is living in membership with us today, Mrs. 
Elizabeth J. Burdett, widow of the much esteemed doctor; though we 
might have mentioned another as thus surviving but that a few short hours 
before this reading we were called to mourn the death of our beloved 
brother, Otis H. Kendall, in Passadena, California. 

During the first year the members of the church had increased to 47 ; 
the second year to 62 ; the third year to 79 ; the fourth year to 135 ; the 
fifth year to iHl ', the sixth year to 202. This rapid increase of church 
members means of course the number that had taken upon them the vows 
of the christian life and does not relate at all to the statistics of the 
attendance upon worship. The success of the first years of our gatherings 
have, to some extent, marked the whole history of the body. 

The first year of our church life had not passed when the question of 
a meeting-house began to agitate the minds of tLie brethren. The growth 
of the church, the frequency of baptisms, and the encouraging condition of 
the congregation made it advisable to secure a site and obtain subscrip- 
tions. Deacon George Cummings, a wealthy merchant from Boston, had 
purchased real estate in Lancaster and at once interested himself in the 
enterprise by generous aid. Alanson Chace, John Burdett, G. P. Smith, 
Dr. Burdett and others were prompt with their encouragement and in 
January, 1849, a commodious, neat and pleasaut house was dedicated to 
the service of God. The house had a graceful steeple, the first that ever 
cast a shadow in this locality, and a church bell, the first in this part of 
Lancaster that ever invited worshipers to the Father's house. Two score 
years passed away and it is found that five hundred souls had been joined 
to the church, over three hundred of them by baptism. Death, dismissals 
and removals had of course reduced such gains, but the need and desiie 
for a larger house of worship caused such an entire reconstruction and 
enlargement of the sanctuary we had been using that it was virtually a 
new building. This was dedicated February 6, 1868. 

Yet this structure did not serve our purpose more than twenty-five 
years, when it seemed necessary to build again. A church of richer archi- 
tectural beauty, of more convenient appointments, and of better material, 
appeared to be the providential requirement. We had grown in means and 
considerably in human nature, and it is always easy to fit our desires with 
a nice quality of the providential. Besides, we were having at this time 
in the service of our third pastor a man of most excellent address and pop- 
ular attraction, and if we were ever to strike, now was the time. To join 
the best material conditions with the most admirable conditions in the pul- 
pit was the dictate of wisdom. Brother Waterbury and the new church 
gave us the highest estate in our history. 



History of Clinton Baptist Church 115 

In the first arrangement of pastor and people, covering two-thirds of 
our whole history, the church carried on its work with singular growth. 
What were called revivals were common, and it was almost uncommon to 
be without one. In one year the church reported sixty-five baptisms, a 
result without parallel among Baptist churches in this region. In ten or 
twelve of the thirty-nine years more baptisms rewarded the activity of the 
church than were enjoyed by any other church in the Association, and 
twice, at le;ist, in the annual returns the church reported more than all the 
other twenty churches together. These facts are given not as at all re- 
lated to pastoral efficiency, but as exclusively relating to the history of a 
working church. And while we had risen from the smallest beginning to 
the second body in numbers in the twenty churches of the Association, and 
though Deacon Bradford of Fitchburg, our Associational historian, had 
ventured to say the remarkable word that the Clinton church was the most 
iiifluential church in the Association, yet, considering the opportunity for 
growth by the increasing population, we should take shame instead of 
credit to ourselves that we have met our responsibilities in only a very im- 
perfect degree. Perhaps a larger pulpit measure of a man would have put 
more power in the pews. It is a mystery to the writer that Providence 
has spared so useless a life to this date instead of closing it off long ago 
under a little white stone with the address, "Here lies," &c. To sum up 
in a word the fifty-seven years of our story, about one thousand persons 
have been connected with the body — nearly seven hundred by baptism and 
three hundred by letter ; but of course the manj' hundreds have been all 
the time going from us as well as coming to us, and our total with us at 
any given date never quite reached the four hundred mark. 

A few words should here he given on the question : ''What does this 
Baptist church stand for in belief and teaching that gives it a distinctive 
character?" 

It is too commonly supposed that a Baptist is a man who distin- 
guishes himself unfavorably by the manner in which he uses the two 
ordinances of the christian religion. He is charged not only with attach- 
ing a great importance to immersion for baptism but, by very intelh^ent 
people, with really holding that immersion is essential to salvation. A 
warm friend of the writer, a graduate of Harvard, a preacher of the lib- 
eral faith, as was his father before him, a man of most generous culture, 
came to my home to spend the night with me. In a most delightful social 
together he suddenly exclaimed: ''I could get along with you Baptists 
very nicely but for one thing." "What is that?" I asked. "Why," was 
the reply, "you believe that immersion is essential to salvation." "What, 
do you really think so?" "Yes, most certainly." "I am happy to cor- 
rect such a mistake," said I, "we believe no such thing; so far from it 
we never baptize any without the assurance they have already passed from 
death unto life in Christ." It is singular how little the denominations 
understand each other. Baptists do not believe if you soaked a man a 
week in deep water it would add one particle to his title to eternal life. 
We baptize as the initiatory introduction into the church which expresses 
our faith in the meaning of church life. 



116 History of Clinton Baptist Church 

So, very intelligent people misunderstand our restricted communion. 
We believe this to be a privilege within the church for which the christian 
is prepared by the prescribed manner of entrance within the fold. We 
believe the communion is not to express general fellowship among believers 
but for each church family to show forth the death of the Master. Hence, 
Christ when he instituted the supper never sent out invitations for some 
of his most devoted friends like the Marys and Joseph of Arimathea, and 
the wonderful one hundred and twenty who afterwards gathered at the 
Pentecost. But it is a very great mistake to suppose that we regard our 
methods in the ordinances as one-half as important and fundamental as 
some other things. 

We regard the constitution of the church on an exclusively spiritual 
basis, the supreme authority of Christ against all traditions, the original 
Scriptures to be honestly translated throughout in all foreign lands, each 
separate church independent of itself without the interference of any kind 
of council whatever, the church wholly of New Testament origin, the 
certainty of infant salvation without any form or ceremony, the absolute 
rights of conscience against all laws ecclesiastical or civil — as of infinitely 
greater moment than questions of water and sacramental forms. We 
believe, in short, that Christ, is head over all things — all things emphat- 
ically — yesterday, today and forever, to the church, be the things great or 
small. A little finger may not be as essential as the brain to a man but 
it is essential to the perfection of his human finish. 

PASTORS 

The church has had the mini-;trations of five different pastors. The 
first of these, the writer of the present paper, took charge of the interest 
in 1847 and remained in service till 1886. He is now that kind of no- 
body, an ex-pastor, and being in his eighty-eighth year is hardly of use 
to himself or anyone else. 

'Tis bootless of course a word to say, 
How he remained to such a flay, 
Just toss your bead at liis many years, 
And count him nought, if so appears. 

The second pastor was the Rev. Hiram Kallock Pervear, a man of 
fine record in our state who had with ability served in four important 
pastorates. Three of the pulpits he had filled ranked high in the denomi- 
nation and had giveu Brother Pervear a pleasant reputation among his 
biethren. He was born in Roxbury, July 16, 1831. After preparation 
for coUciie in Worcester Academy, he entered Brown University, in 1851, 
and completing the four years' course, he went to Newton for his theolog- 
ical studies. He was ordained in Roxbury, in 1857. Of nearly thirty- 
five years of service in the ministr}' before coming to Clinton, eight were 
given to the church in East Cambridge, eight to the First Worcester, 
seven to the First Cambridge, and six and one-half to the Fii'st New 
Bedford ; and that in his work he has served such leading churches honors 



History of Clinton Baptist Church 117 

it with much distinction. He has shown himself a good example of the 
dignity and influence of the pulpit. In 1899 he received the well merited 
degree from Acadia College of Doctor of Divinity. During his labors in 
the churches mentioned he gathered many souls into the kingdom, and 
one fact deserves special mention, that in one of the years while he was 
the pastor of the First Cambridge he baptized the lai-ge number of ninety- 
three persons, a record which few ministers have the privilege of making. 
His five years while with us brought forty by profession into the church. 

Our third pastor was the popular and much beloved Rev. Willard 
Emmet Waterbury. He was born in Hastings, Oswego County, N. Y., 
March 7, 1H58. His special education preparatory to the ministry was 
received in the collegiate Institute, Elbridge University, N. Y., and in 
the Rochester University. Before assuming the charge of a church, how- 
ever, he entered upon wo'k for the Young M'ns' Christian Association in 
Concord, N. H., in which he continued a year and one-half. In 1884, he 
accepted a call as pastor of the church in Hopkintou, N. H., in which he 
was ordained and here he labored three years. In 1887 he entered upon 
a pastorate with the (^arew St. Church, Springtield, Mass., and with this 
people he continued in service five years. In ilS92, under the pressure of 
a most urgent call, he came to Clinton and in the four and one-half years 
of his administration in holy things he added one hundred and forty-six 
persons to the cliurch by baptism. Bro. Waterbury is remarkably gifted 
with the qualities that ensure success. He is the incarnality of geniality 
and graciousness. He has an aptness to teach, a gift of ready expression 
and a most pleasant command of himself on the platform. His address is 
always winsome, his teaching without severity and he can make even the 
ten commandments sweet to the taste. As a public speaker he is agree- 
able both to see and hear and as one good woman expressed it. he is the 
most graceful speaker she ever listened to. While he labored in Clinton 
he was a favorite with all classes and it may be a long time before the 
church will fully recover from the disappointment of his leaving us. 

Our fourth pastor was Rev. Archibald Sangster Brown. He was 
born in Litchfield, Penn., July 1, 1844. After enjoying a good business 
education he removed to Hartford, Conn., in 1870, wiiere he built up a 
prosperous hardware trade. Becoming a chi'istian he entered upon active 
work as a member of Dr. Crane's church. Shortly developing the quali- 
ties that make a public speaker he turned his thoughts to the Christian 
ministry. He took a course of sj^stematic theology in Hartford and in 
188.0, while still continuing his business, he became pastor of the Rock- 
ville chui-ch being ordained November 4th of the same year. He labored 
two years in Rockville raising fimds to build a meeting house, superin- 
tending the work and largely adding to the membership and the prospeiity 
of the church in all ways. While in the work of chnrch building he 
received a call to the Carew St. Church. Springfield, wbi-h he did not 
accept for he was carrying the double burden of the Rockville chnrch and 
his business also The call from Springfield was shortly again extended 
and again declined. When he closed his labors with the above cliurch 
after two years he supplied the church in Granville in this state for a year 



118 History of Clinton Baptist Church 

and one-half, and though invited to become their pastor he was not moved 
to accept their call. He gave up his business however, and devoted him- 
self to their interests, lifting tliem out of their financial and spiritual 
depression to great enlargement and prosperity. In 1889 he accepted an 
invitation to become the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Norwich, 
Conn. Here he labored eight years with most encouraging success In 
1897 he was called to Clinton. His vigorous, earnest and efficient man- 
ner as a preacher and pastor commended him at once to the good will of 
the people and they recognized in him a christian minister who heartily 
desired to aid them, morally and spiritually. His five years of service 
in Clinton have been fruitful in good results and he was permitted to add 
to the church over seventy persons by baptism. 

Our fifth pastor, the present one, is Rev. Edgar Rhuel Hyde. He 
was born in Oswego, N. Y., February 5, 1871. His education for the 
ministry was obtained in the four years' course at Mt. Hermon, Mass., 
the collegiate course of Colgate University where he graduated in 1897, 
and the three years of training in the theological school connected with 
the university. While pursuing his studies he supplied the churches in 
Norway and Russia, N Y., from September, 1897 to September, 1900. 
He was ordained at Oswego, September 11, 1900, and took charge of the 
church at Turners Falls, Mass., where he continued for twenty-one 
months in useful service. In June, 1902, he became pastor of the Clin- 
ton church. His education, his five years of preaching, his well developed 
efl3ciency as a worker gave him fitness to enter this more important field. 
Since coming to us he has displayed the resources of an active mind, an 
ability to plan and arrange for good results and a hearty purpose to lead 
the church into true fellowsiiip of labor. He has phj'sical vigor, a marked 
interest in the young and a clear perception of the ways of meeting all 
pastoral responsibilities. From the forcible manner in which he began 
his work with us there is reason to anticipate for his future a decided and 
very pleasant degree of success. 

(The sixth pastor, settled subsequently to the preparation of this 
paper by Rev. Dr. Bowers, was Rev. Henry Charles Speed, a native of 
Dover, Maine, where he was born in 1867. After one year of special 
work at Brown University he entered Newton Theological Seminary from 
which he graduated in 1899. He was ordained at Monson, Maine, in 
1899, where he labored six years, then with Crown Hill church in Nashua, 
N. H., five years to 1910, when he came to the Clinton Baptist church. 
At one time, while in Nashua, he was president of the New Hampshire 
State Sunday School Association. — Editor.) 

While the five pastors, thus given as having covered in their service 
the fifty-seven years of the histor}" of the church, have rejoiced in uniting 
to the body on the profession of their faith nearly seven hundred souls 
it is but fair to say that this has been don^ without any special effort to 
force Baptist views upon the acceptance of any one. Indeed, one of the 
most influential members of the church confessed he came to the Baptists 
because they let him alone. More than thirty per cent of all that from 
the beginning have joined the Baptist church came from families of other 



History of Clinton Baptist Church U:0 

religious affinities. Some even never saw a baptism after the abundant 
water form till they came to Clinton. The celebrated Lyman Beecher, 
after one of his great revivals remarked, when many of his converts took 
to the full degree of water, "I hatched them out chickens but they turned 
out to be ducks." If people without any influence but their own ques- 
tioning and independent handling of Scripture make for themselves a 
Baptist system of practice there seems to be an actual need of an existing 
Baptist church to receive them. 

What conditions have contributed to the prosperity of the church.? 

1. — The peaceful management of all affairs by those who have had a 
controlling or official influence in the church and society, together with 
the fraternal spirit that has leavened the whole body. A people that can 
hold in service a church clerk fifty years, deacons thirty-seven yeai's, a 
church treasurer forty years, Sunday school superintendents in some cases 
eight or ten years, that never had any discordant notes with its various 
choirs nor quarreled with any janitors, surely had found the blessed way 
of holding the fort with a measure of success. We are proud of our 
deacons that have been and are. We have never been brought into confu- 
sion and division by what an evangelist called the "long horned species." 
If any protuberance began to develop as preparing for a horn of minor 
size even, the swelling quickly subsided and nothing came of it. The 
members of the church made up of the same varieties of human nature 
as compose all such bodies, may have had specimens of "hard-ware 
ability" and "the square-toed virtues", but they always kept grace enough 
to make a pleasant summer atmosphere. We never had any ungovemed 
tempers to interfere with the quiet of our Zion. 

2. — A second condition ministering to fair success has been the 
influence of the Sunday School. We have been very fortunate in the 
amount of good material at our command out of which to draft vigorous 
and useful superintendents. It cannot be said we ever suffered from the 
choice of a poor one. Quite often for considerable periods the attendance 
at the school was larger than at divine worship. The history of the school 
has been, in some respects, without any parallel in the schools of the 
Wachusett Association. 

3. — Another condition towards success has been the constant pressure 
of the pulpit upon the church to attain activity of christian living. The 
five pastors who have had charge of the church to date have worked very 
largely on this line of thought and effort. Not that they aimed at all to 
imitate each other's kind of ministration but they happen to have taken 
the same idea of pastoral responsibility and been moved to reach the same 
results. There has been a remarkable uniformity in the manner and 
effects of their work. Each did something to make the church grow to 
more church. 

4. — Still a further condition towards any success we may have 
attained has been our always having enjoyed the help of a corps of 
devoted and efficient women. They have not been merely members of a 
church organized by men but they have been themselves the chief part of 
the timber, brick and stone, in the building. We should hardly have half 



120 History of Clinton Baptist Church 

of the strength of today but that our Deborahs and Huldahs and Priscillas 
and Joannas have known how to be saints of the husthng oi'der. To a 
certain extent women furnish the best life to a church. A ctiurch made 
up of men would degenerate into an ice-house. Pentecost would not have 
been Pentecost without the praying women. Many wonders in Scripture 
are the wonders of the manly women. It would be well nigh impossible 
to maintain worship, conference meetings, Sunday schools and some of 
our best benevolences without noble spiritual Amazons to fill the ranks. 

"There's not a task to mankind given, 
There's not a blessing or a woe, 
Thei'e's not a whisper yes or no, 
There's not a life or death or birth. 
That has a feather's weight of worth, 
Without a woman in it." 

As an illustration of the important place women hold in our churches 
an instance may be given of thirty-two persons appointed on committees 
to look after the religious and benevolent interests of a certain church ; 
twenty-five bear the names of women. The best man in every live church 
is usually a woman. In some respects the noblest, most heroic character 
among Bible saints was the widow whose estate was appraised at two 
mites cash. 

INCIDENTAL MATTERS 

An important event has just taken place in our history. We have 
abolished the society organization and by legal process have made the 
church the sole responsible body in charge of all matters, secular as well 
as religious. The entire property, real and personal, has been transferred 
to the possession of the church under the new arrangement. As the 
society members were mostly members of the church the control of the 
property continues virtually in the same hands. 

While there may be no special importance in the question whether 
the church has been recognized in the town as a considerable factor in 
the various interests of the municipality, educational, political, official and 
financial, it can be said we have had our part in the honors the town 
could bestow. We have been represented in all kinds of committees — ; 
some of our members have filled the offices of town clerk and treasurer, 
have been chairman of the selectmen's and school boards, have been sent 
to the legislature as representatives and senators, and two even have 
reached a seat in the governor's council. AVe have had our quota of lead- 
ing business men, high school principals, bank directors, doctors, and 
ever so many kinds of Most Noble Grands. We have still other members 
who would like to attain something, if the something wanted to attain 
them. We deplore, however, one failure. We cannot yet count in our 
number any young Webster or Choate to give us equal distinction with 
our neighbors in possessing a legal esquire with the learning of a supreme 
court in his own bowels. We may add yet a lawyer to our acquisitions as 
the population in that line is rapidly increasing. 

Not to make our history too serious we may be allowed to put on 
record a very ludicrous compliment paid to our people in the soundest 



History of Clinton Baptist Church 131 

judgment of a very prominent citizen, given soon a^'ter the writer com- 
menced his work here. In discussing with a neighbor the characteristics 
of Baptists he happily classified them as a set of religionists that usually 
had red hair and low foreheads. Baptists have been described in a great 
variety of ways as : deep water christians, ducks, hardshells, and new 
lights, but this unique and distinctive mark of an entirely original species 
pleased us beyond measure, and of course because red is a very positive 
and aggressive color. It is found largely in all nature and is expressive 
of efficiency. That this colored hair should extend itself from the scalp 
to the brow and cause an apparent subsidence of the forehead does not 
lesson the average actual height but shows the vigor of the hair. We 
might infer from the power in Samson's hair that it must have been very 
red. Long live the red-headed Baptists. 

It may be questioned by some why one of the pastors regarded it as 
much his duty to contribute to the expenses of worship on account of his 
family having the same participation in its advantages as other families. 
Why not? A minister does not expect to be supplied with free groceries, 
free marketings, free water or free receipt for taxes. Usually he is better 
able from the salary granted him to meet any family expenses than three- 
fourths of his parishioners. As at present advised we believe that minis- 
ters as a class contribute a smaller per cent of their means to the benevo- 
lences than any other contributors in the chuixhes. I'hey urge the poorest 
to give but should stand before the looking glass quite often and preach 
to the figure that appears in the mirror. "Be the example yourself in 
generosity to all others." 

As in the modern ways of promoting the religious movements of the 
churches the culinary department has a large place ; it would be inexcus- 
able in us not to mention the great indebtedness of the Baptist church to 
this popular method of raising funds. The discovery of the religious 
value of beans and griddle cakes and oysters, and of the importance of 
cook-stoves and church restaurants in gospel enterprises has been of great 
financial service to all bodies of believers. We have probably realized 
thousands of dollars out of the conscientious labor in providing at half 
price sacred beans and consecrated salad and religious chicken pie and 
celestial pastry and etherial cake and heavenly scallops for the occasional 
appetites of the pilgrims Zionward. Such variety in our improved condi- 
tions makes a picnic of five loaves and two small fishes a scant entertain- 
ment. If John Bunyan had been living today he would have added a 
chapter to his matchless Pilgrim's progress as to how much, after all, has 
been done in improving the hard journey to the celestial city and by beans 
and ice cream to strengthen all pilgrims to hold out from station to station 
on the divinely appointed way. 

As we never heard of any other church having in one remarkable 
particular the same experiences as ours perhaps we ought to put it on 
record. In the beginning of our civil war nineteen men from our church 
and congregation enlisted in the service. Immediately a weekly meeting 
was appointed to pray that the lives of these men might be preserved 
through all the perils of their army experience, and if Providence could so 



122 History of Clinton Baptist Church 

will it, that they might return safely to their homes again. This meeting 
was continued while the war lasted. Singularly enough not one of the 
number lost his life but all came safely back, to the relief and joy of their 
kindred and friends. Was this chance, or divine interposition? If there 
be a God there must be one that hears and sometimes answers. At any 
rate here seems to be a fact that cannot be explained by saying, ''It 
happened so," for the men were in different divisions of the army and 
some of them, at least, in the most severe battles of the entire war. 

It has been our privilege to have four good men who have been in 
our membership become ministers of the gospel : 

James Powers, a very bright and talented brother became under cir- 
cumstances of peculiar interest a successful and useful preacher in the 
Episcopal church. 

Charles W. Walker, while in service to the town as a hisrh school 
teacher, decided to turn to the ministry as the higher choice for life. 

Charles A. Bowers, son of the first pastor, a graduate of Harvard, 
had begun the work of preaching but while in his studies at the Newton 
Theological Institution was suddenly cut down by fatal illness and unex- 
pectedly transferred to the service on high. 

Charles T. Reekie is now in his third pastorate in New Hampshire 
and proving himself to be an excellent minister of Jesus Christ. 

We have reason to mention with tenderest interest the names of some 
of the departed whose contributions by will to our means necessarily 
make their memory a most sacred part of our history : 

Sylvester S. Welch bequeathed to the church $1,000, the income for 
the support of worship, and $500 for the benefit of the Sunday school. 

Wilson Morse, $1,000 for the benefit of the Sunday school. 

Deacon Henry C. Greeley, $11,500 for the support of worship and 
$1,000 in aid of the poor. 

George W. Weeks, although not connected with our fellowship, 
$3,000 to relieve the poor, in a will that distributed his fortune in a 
most remarkable manner in the variety of the objects specified, and char- 
itable spirit displayed to all denominations. 

May the history of the church thus far be an inspiration to reach 
something larger in the future, more glorious to the ordination of God 
and more serviceable to every need and demand of our suffering human- 
ity. Amen. 



Erratum — Page 48. The "Saturday Courant" was re-named "Clintou Courant" 
by W. J. Coulter when he resumed publication, October 1, 1865, after a three years' 
suspension during the civil war. 

Note — Page 67. The box in which the mail was brought from the Lancaster 
post-office to the sub-offlce in Clintonville, prior to the incorporation of Clinton, in 
1850, is now in the possession of the Clinton Historical Society- 



MAY 14 1912 



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